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Legislation to Curb Misuse of Antibiotics Introduced in House

March 17, 2009

Publication: Hoosier Ag Today

Last year the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal production made a recommendation that the nation reform the way food animals are raised. Tuesday Shelley Hearne of the Pew Commission applauded legislation introduced by New York 28th District Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. Hearne described the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act of 2009, saying, “This PAMTA bill phases out the use of medically important human antibiotics in food animals, unless the animals are sick with disease. It’s a fairly basic concept here. Disturbingly though, the majority of all human antibiotics produced in the U.S. are not used in people. Instead they are going to food animals in amounts too low to actually fight disease, but instead are to fatten the animals faster and compensate for the intensely crowded and unsanitary conditions that are found on many industrial farms. This bill is designed to help stop this dangerous practice.”

Congresswoman Slaughter is a microbiologist with a Masters in Public Health. She noted medical experts have said the misuse of antibiotics in industrial farming is directly linked to the growing number of antibiotic-resistant infections in people. Slaughter said, “Antibiotics are just fed to the herds in their daily feed. Not that they’re sick. They want to compensate for what are really unsanitary conditions, and the awful crowding conditions, and to promote weight gain. And the drugs that are used in people to treat serious diseases like pneumonia and scarlet fever, skin infections, and pandemics like malaria and plague, as well as bioterrorism agents smallpox and anthrax, are just being marginalized because of this overuse.”

Slaughter says similar legislation was introduced in the 1980’s and several times since. This time she is optimistic the house will pass the bill, and seemed to pit consumers against producers when she said, “It will really come down to whether the members of Congress want to protect their constituents or they want to protect agribusiness. I think that’s the point we have to make to them.”

As for the legislation passing, Slaughter said, “I think the chances are better simply because the people in charge do understand the germ theory of disease to a large extent. That’s something new around here”

Slaughter said Edward Kennedy would introduce companion legislation in the Senate.

She also cited support for the legislation from the American Medical Association, Public Health Association, National Association of County and City Health Officials, the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture, and over 300 more organizations that represent health, consumer, agricultural, environmental, humane and other interests.

On Tuesday Hoosier Ag Today spoke with Mike Platt from Indiana Pork for reaction to the announcement and comments. Read his thoughts at this website Thursday.

View Legislation to Curb Misuse of Antibiotics Introduced in House on Hoosier Ag Today site.