Animal Antibiotics: Hope

The growing concern of a microbial warfare has led to an up rise in the number of people who are looking to make a conscientious stand for a reform of livestock antibiotics. The leading voice for this reform is Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter, the only microbiologist in congress and a representative of New York’s twenty-eight district. Representative Slaughter, of the Democratic Party, re-introduced The Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA, H.R. 965/ S. 1211) on March 9, 2011. 


*PAMTA, H.R. 965/ S. 1211 proposes: 

• to end the spread and creation of new anti-resistant bacteria 
• withdraw the approval of non-therapeutic antibiotic use in animals
• preserve the effectiveness of medically important antibiotics 
• create an action plan to address the concern of antibiotic ineffectiveness
• create strict regulations for the creation of new antibiotic 

PAMTA follows a similar structure of a bill that has been passed into law by the European Union. The European union was able to successfully withdraw the use of all antibiotic use in animals within a six month period of enactment of the bill, a promising notion for the same fight in the United States. 

The biggest barrier that PAMTA faces is the lobbying of the "big meat" and pharmaceutical industries. These major players feel the act to be threatening to their bottom line, the only real reason why these industries fight against this bill, they are not concerned for the animals well being. 

"Big meat" companies are winning the fight against animal antibiotics. They have successfully managed to have the FDA withdraw their thirty year petition to have antibiotics withdrawn. In a recent statement the FDA stated,“contested, formal withdrawal proceedings” consume too much of its time and money. For example, withdrawing nitrofurans from livestock use took 20 years, DES (diethylstilbestrol) took seven years and enrofloxacin took five years and cost $3.3 million". 


There is hope however, proposals such as PAMTA can really make a difference. The medical costs that this act will eliminate if passed, alone, would compensate for the costs of antibiotic withdrawal.  


I am only one person, but I chose to keep myself educated and do my part in spreading the message. I urge others to do the same and really understand what it means to have hope for an antibiotic/hormone free food industry future. 

* for more detailed PAMTA information please visit the above provide links