The new antibiotics regulation for use in livestock.

The regulations require producers who raise cattle, cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys and other animals to obtain a veterinarian’s approval before using any antibiotics that also are important to human health. And antibiotics may no longer be used in healthy animals as a feed additive to increase weight. The routine use of antibiotics in animals that are also used in human drugs has been a growing concern of consumers and health professionals. The goal is to ensure these medically important antimicrobials that are given to food-producing animals in medicated feed and drinking water are used judiciously. The problem is that the more frequently antibiotics are used, the more quickly bacteria can develop resistance to them, rendering the lifesaving drugs less effective or ineffective. Health professionals and consumer groups have pressed the FDA and the livestock industry to avoid unnecessary or inappropriate uses of antibiotics. The regulation also require producers, vets and feed mills to document the use of prescribed antibiotics and keep those records on hand for several years.