Health Canada announced a three-year phase-out of subtherapeutic use of antibiotics in food animals, a step that parallels U.S. action. In a notice to stakeholders, the government said it would move forward on “removal of growth promotion and/or production claims of medically-important antimicrobial drugs” and “development of options to strengthen the veterinary oversight of antimicrobial use in food animals.” Health Canada also said it would “align” with the United States ” to the extent possible, for an efficient transition for all involved parties over the same time period.”
Like Health Canada, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it wanted to preserve the efficacy of antibiotics used to combat disease in humans.
Reported Postmedia News: “‘Successful implementation of this policy means that medically important antibiotics will only be used in food animals under the direction of a veterinarian when there is a specific disease challenge,’ says the Canadian Animal Health Institute, an association representing companies that supply close to 1,600 of tonnes of antibiotics a year to Canadian farmers…’This could be a seismic shift,’ (said) John Prescott, a veterinarian at the University of Guelph.”
Earlier this month, the Toronto Globe and Mail said the U.S. phase-out was putting pressure on Canada to take similar action.
Civil Eats says seven U.S. cities have passed resolutions calling for a law to ban nontherapeutic use of antibiotics.