Antibiotics sold for chicken production way down

The Food and Drug Administration  in Decmber announced that domestic sales and distribution of all medically important antimicrobials intended for use in food-producing animals decreased by 33 percent between years 2016 and 2017.  The 2017 Summary Report on Antimicrobials Sold or Distributed for Use in Food-Producing Animals also shows that domestic sales and distribution of all medically important antimicrobials decreased 43 percent since 2015 (peak year of sales/distribution) and decreased 28 percent since the first year of reported sales in 2009.
Specifically for chicken, of the 2017 domestic sales and distribution of medically important antimicrobials approved for use in food-producing animals, only an estimated 5% was intended for chickens.  Chicken also saw a 47% decrease in estimated sales of medically important antimicrobials between 2016 and 2017.  This data reflect the first full year of implementation of FDA Guidances #209 and #213.

“We all have a role to play in preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics, both in humans and animals,” noted Ashley Peterson, Ph.D., NCC senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs.   “We’re proud to say that chicken producers have been leaders in proactively taking steps toward finding alternative ways to control disease while reducing antibiotic use, especially those important to human medicine.  Although sales data does not have a direct impact on human health or antimicrobial resistance, this new data reflects a significant reduction in sales and distribution of medically important antibiotics across animal agriculture.

“Regardless of production practice, the health of our birds is the top priority and we support stewardship and responsible antibiotic use when necessary to treat and prevent disease under the prescription of a licensed veterinarian,” Peterson said.

The summary report presents the sales and distribution data for the 2017 calendar year for actively marketed antimicrobial drugs approved for use in food-producing animals by drug class, medical importance, route of administration, indication, and dispensing status, as well as species-specific estimates of these sales and distribution