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FDA rule on antibiotic usage takes effect in June

- Courtney Love

Most over-the-counter livestock antibiotic medications will no longer be available for purchase without a veterinary prescription starting June 11.

This is the final phase of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) guidance for industry No. 263 regarding livestock antibiotic labels. Since 2017, the FDA has been trying to bring all approved livestock antibiotics under veterinary oversight in an effort to combat antimicrobial resistance.

“This will end over-the-counter sales of antibiotics, and livestock owners will need a prescription from a veterinarian if they want to continue to have access,” says veterinarian Craig Payne with University of Missouri Extension.

In January 2017, the FDA pulled approved feed antibiotics such as tetracycline and penicillin from farm and livestock supply retail store shelves and began requiring farmers to have a veterinary feed directive to buy the medications. In addition, the regulation included antibiotics that are delivered by water.