While 2023 might seem a long way off, it’s not too early for livestock producers think about how recent Food and Drug Administration guidance might affect their operations, according to University of Missouri Extension veterinarian Craig Payne.
On June 11, the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine published Guidance for Industry No. 263(GFI #263) in the Federal Register. The document outlines a strategy and timeline for bringing all medically important antibiotics that are currently available over the counter under veterinary oversight. This will affect several antibiotics familiar to livestock producers.
If you have a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR), the impact will be minimal because a veterinarian will be able to issue a prescription for these antibiotics, says Payne. If you don’t have a VCPR, now is the time to find a veterinarian willing to work with you to ensure future access to antibiotics.
Under a VCPR, a veterinarian must have sufficient knowledge of your operation to make medical judgments, he says. It also means you agree to follow the veterinarian’s instructions.