The House Rules Committee did not let the livestock industry in when they passed the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act of 2009 on Monday because it is no secret producers would have a lot to say.
The banning of antibiotics on livestock is putting a big damper on the industry and most think it is bad public policy.
Jen Greiner, the National Pork Producers Council Director of Science and Technology pointed out that prior to the ruling antibiotics already went through heavy screening from the FDA and now producers have to wait two years for new reviews to be made.
If the reviews of antibiotics is not passed, the product could be pulled from the market.
“We estimate that a ban on antibiotic growth promoters would in the first year cost pork producers about $6 per head. Over ten years that would add up to over $1 billion in losses,” Greiner said.
At Monday’s hearing it was decided that antibiotics should be used online for preventing disease, but not for growth.
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