The National Pork Producers Council’s (NPPC) Washington, DC office provides the following updates on antimicrobial resistance hearings, passage of the 2008 Farm Bill and the ongoing efforts to renew the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA).
SENATE EXAMINED ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 on antimicrobial resistance in the U.S. and the emergence of ?superbugs?. While the hearing largely focused on MRSA as the most commonly recognized resistant infection, and the discussion mostly related to human medicine there was testimony and questions on the use of antimicrobials in animal agriculture. Dr. Lyle Vogel, Assistant Executive Vice President of the American Veterinary Medical Association testified that veterinarians are dedicated to protecting public health while ensuring animal health and animal welfare. Critics of the U.S. pork industry have tried to link antibiotic use in pigs with growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This hearing continues to show the importance of the Take Care and Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) Plus programs. It is vital that the public understands how veterinarians and producers work together to provide a safe and wholesome product.
COMPLETE FARM BILL RE-APPROVED, RE-SENT TO WHITE HOUSE
Congress again voted and approved the $289 billion Farm Bill, because the legislation it passed in May was mistakenly sent to the While House without the trade title. The House re-approved the complete bill, and the Senate followed with a 77-15 vote. Another Presidential veto and successful override vote is anticipated to complete the 2008 Farm Bill. All titles, excluding the trade policy one, became law on May 22 when Congress overrode President Bush’s veto. The 2008 Farm Bill authorizes a voluntary national trichinae certification program, which will certify that exported pork is trichinae-free, which will further increase export opportunities. Among detrimental provisions important to veterinarians, NPPC opposed and was able to keep out of the legislation one that would have dictated onerous on-farm food animal handling and production practices.
ADUFA HEARING DISCUSSES USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN LIVESTOCK
The House Energy Committee’s Subcommittee on Health held a hearing June 5 on the renewal of the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) and the new Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act (AGDUFA). Subcommittee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., emphasized a desire to move the ADUFA bill forward and ensure its passage before it expires in October; however, many representatives had questions on antibiotic usage in livestock, suggesting the potential of an amendment addressing the topic. Robert Martin, executive director of the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production, in testimony before the panel, urged lawmakers to ban the use in livestock of all non-therapeutic antibiotics. Dr. Richard Carnevale of the Animal Health Institute testified that a ban is unnecessary and pointed to the Pork Quality Assurance Program, which successfully teaches producers the appropriate use of antibiotics as a model alternative. NPPC supports the full reauthorization of ADUFA and authorization of AGDUFA without extraneous amendments.