Ban planned for animal drugApril 03, 2003An antibiotic used by...

Ban planned for animal drug
April 03, 2003

An antibiotic used by the chicken, pork and red meat industries to boost growth will be banned under a proposal by the nation's chemical watchdog. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority today proposed a clampdown on the use of virginiamycin (virginiamycin) to ensure it was only used for medicinal cases. Authority principal scientist Tim Dyke said there were concerns about the continued use of virginiamycin in food-producing animals.

"Since a related antibiotic is now being used in human medicine we wish to avoid any likelihood of antibiotic resistance developing and affecting people," he said in a statement. "Cancelling its use as a growth promotant in animals is the way to do this." There have been growing concerns that the use of certain antibiotics, particularly in the chicken industry, is leading to antibiotic resistance in human patients. Virginiamycin is most commonly used by the chicken and pork industries to boost growth in animals. Under the authority's proposed guidelines, use of virginiamycin would be banned as a growth promotant. But it could be used for the control of diseases under veterinary prescription. Product labels would also have to carry specific details on the duration of use of the antibiotic, and the frequency of use. Horses would still be able to have treatment with virginiamycin. The authority is taking public comment on its proposals until May 23.