The following statement may be attributed to Courtney Dillard, Global Research and Strategy Manager at Mercy For Animals:
Protecting the effectiveness of medically important antibiotics is a shared responsibility and is in the interest of animals, consumers, farmers, and public health alike. Antibiotics play a critical role in modern medicine, and preserving their effectiveness should be a priority for regulators, producers, and policymakers.
The World Health Organization has called on countries to stop the routine use of antibiotics for healthy animals, noting that “In some countries, approximately 80% of total consumption of medically important antibiotics is in the animal sector, largely for growth promotion in healthy animals.” The routine use of medically important antibiotics in animal agriculture raises important concerns for both public health and animal welfare. While antibiotics remain an essential tool for treating illness in animals, they should not be used to compensate for production systems that increase disease risks or to substitute for stronger disease prevention measures, improved animal care practices, or farming systems that better support animal health and well-being.
Mercy For Animals is proud to join dozens of organizations in calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to evaluate the continued use of medically important antibiotics for disease prevention in food-producing animals. We believe policies should be guided by science, transparency, and a commitment to protecting public health while reducing reliance on routine antibiotic use and alleviating animal suffering.
As this conversation moves forward, we encourage a science-based approach that strengthens oversight, advances animal welfare, supports farmers in adopting sustainable practices, and helps ensure these critically important medicines remain effective for future generations.
— Courtney Dillard, Global Research and Strategy Manager at Mercy For Animals
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