Executive Board revises extra-label use policy, comments on new FDA rules

SCHAUMBURG, ILL. — The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Executive Board revised its policy on extra-label drug use in January, and the association says it will use the new policy to comment on additional restrictions placed on the use of cephalosporin-class antimicrobials in most food animals by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The revised policy approved by the Executive Board Jan. 6 reflects AVMA's previously stated position that science-based risk analysis should be performed before any regulatory bodies consider prohibitions on extra-label drug use and that those prohibitions be as narrow as possible, says AVMA.

The revision came just two days after FDA announced its new policy, which will ban the extra-label use of cephalosporin antimicrobials in cattle, chickens, swine and turkeys for disease prevention effective April 5.

Also at a Jan. 6 meeting, members were appointed to the Task Force on Governance and Member Participation, which was created in August 2011 to evaluate the AVMA governance structure, including the Executive Board and the House of Delegates.

Committee members include: Ralph Johnson, Denver, chair; Richard Alampi, Hillsborough, N.J.; Dr. Sarah Babcock, Washington, D.C.; Dr. Stewart "Chip" Beckett, Glastonbury, Conn.; Dr. Grace F. Bransford, San Anselmo, Calif.; Bridget Heilsberg, Fort Collins, Colo.; Dr. Adam J. Langer, Atlanta; Dr. Stacy L. Pritt, Chino Hills, Calif.; Dr. Kathy M. Reilly, Keene, N.H.; Dr. Rebecca E. Stinson-Dixon, Reidsville, N.C.; and Dr. Lori M. Teller, Houston.