Antibiotics in Agriculture: Science, Public Policy, and the Marketplace

1. Antibiotics in Agriculture: Science, Public Policy, and the Marketplace Rebecca Goldburg, Senior Scientist,Environmental Defense November, 2004

2. The Antibiotic Resistance Crisis • Federal Interagency Task Force, 2001: • Antimicrobial resistance is “a growing menace to all people” • Without effective action, treatments for common infections “will become increasingly limited and expensive – and, in some cases, nonexistent.“

3. Relative Causation • Medical overuse is a major factor • But, massive agricultural use of antibiotics likely also plays a large role in generating and distributing resistance genes • Precise quantification of relative contributions probably impossible… • ... but simultaneous action on medical and agricultural fronts is not!

4. Non-therapeutic Generally added to feed For “growth promotion” For “routine prophylaxis” – compensate for crowded conditions Therapeutic Treat sick animals or those likely to get sick because of illness in the herd or flock Key terminology

5. U.S. antimicrobial use 70 Half from classes used in human medicine % 15 8 6 Livestock Therapy Human Therapy Other Livestock Non-Therapeutic UCS estimates

6. Routes of Exposure Antibiotics HUMANS (General Populace) FOOD Animals WORKERS Resistant Bacteria ENVIRONMENT

7. Transfer of Resistance Genes • Plasmids and more • Readily transferred • Even to distantly related bacteria • Confirmed in human gut, mouth • Bacteria “teach” each other to outwit antibiotics

8. Routes of Exposure “AR genes … once evolved in bacteria of any kind anywhere, can spread indirectly through the world’s interconnecting commensal, environmental and pathogenic bacterial populations to other kinds of bacteria anywhere else.” -- O’Brien, 2002 Antibiotics Via FOOD handling, consumption HUMANS (General Populace) Animals Via WORKERS Handling of feed, manure; transfer to family, community Resistant Bacteria Via ENVIRONMENT Contamination of water, soil, air by bacteria and antibiotics

9. The Role of Residues • Antibiotic residues NOT major focus of concern • Testing finds occasional violations of residue standards • But, even if residue standards fully met, antibiotic resistance problem remains!

10. Public-health consensus National Academies Institute of Medicine, 2003: "Clearly, a decrease in antimicrobial use in human medicine alone will have little effect on the current situation. Substantial efforts must be made to decrease inappropriate overuse in animals and agriculture as well."

11. Government Policy and Marketplace Initiatives • Government policy • Phaseouts of antibiotic feed additives in Sweden, Denmark, and then EU • US – FDA, Congress • Marketplace • Restaurant chains, suppliers • Market opportunities

12. Environmental Defense’s role • Coalition to Keep Antibiotics Working (KAW) – members include • Union of Concerned Scientists • Humane Society of the United States • National Catholic Rural Life Conference • Environmental Defense • Alliance for Environmental Innovation – arm of Environmental Defense that works with businesses to voluntarily adopt policies and practices that protect the environment

13. FDA’s Draft Guidance 152 • New FDA policy • Mostly guidance to industry for assessing NEW antimicrobial drugs for animals • Acknowledges FDA needs to review existing approvals, but no timetable for doing so

14. Fluoroquinolones in poultry • Oct. 2000: FDA proposed to ban fluoroquinolones for therapeutic use in poultry • Bayer contesting • FDA administrative law judge ruled against Bayer in 2003 • Multi-year process of appeals ensues • Meanwhile, poultry drug remains on market

15. Citizen Petition to FDA, March 1999  Asked FDA to issue rules phasing out non-therapeutic use of 7 classes of medically important antibiotics. FDA “tentative” response Feb. 01: “The Agency’s experience with contested, formal with- drawal proceedings is that the process can consume extensive periods of time and Agency resources.” FDA cited as examples: DES - 6 years  Nitrofurans - 20 years

16. Phases out nontherapeutic use of 8 classes of human-use antibiotics Unless FDA concludes ‘safe’ Ag-use data Transition support “Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act” (Sen. Kennedy/Snowe; Rep. Brown/Gilchrest)

17. Endorsers • About 375 endorsers, including: • American Medical Association • American Academy of Pediatrics • Alabama State Nurses Association • Iowa Farmers Union • American Grassfed Association • Consumer Federation of America

18. Marketplace: Private sector actions • Major poultry producers -- Perdue, Tyson Foods, Foster Farms, ConAgra, Gold Kist, Claxton, and Wayne Farms – say they have reduced or eliminated routine uses of medically important antibiotics or the use of fluoroquinolones in sick birds

19. McDonald’s Policy • Developed with Environmental Defense • Bans growth promoters after 2004 for “direct suppliers,” i.e. poultry • Creates purchasing preference for other suppliers • Establishes guidelines for “sustainable use” – e.g. preventative use of antibiotics • Applies globally

20. Economic Opportunity Consumer interest in products from animals raised • Without routine/ any antibiotics • Without hormones • Under standards for humane treatment • By independent ”family” farmers

21. “Family Farm Foods” New initiative: • Marketing alliance to be based in Louisiana • National scope with regional subunits • Link producers to retailers • Clear, consistent production protocols

22. National Brand using Visa Model

23. Family Farm Foods Key organizations: • Agriculture of the Middle • The Association of Family Farms, Inc. • Family Farm Foods of Mississippi Other supporters: • Land grants • Foundations • Nongovernment organizations • SYSCO, Winn Dixie

24. Conclusions • Strong scientific case for reducing antibiotic use in animal agriculture • Federal government is beginning to address the issue • Some major food companies are reducing antibiotic use, particularly in poultry • Coupling reduced antibiotic use with other production attributes may offer an opportunity for independent farmers