NPPC backs reauthorization of ADUFA

National Pork Producers Council chief veterinarian Liz Wagstrom attended a U.S. Food and Drug Administration public meeting last week that marked the start of the process of reauthorizing the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) for another five years. ADUFA will come up for re-authorization in 2013.

First enacted in 2003, ADUFA allows FDA to collect fees from the animal health industry for the review and approval of animal health products. The fees supplement the agency’s annual congressionally-approved appropriations and have enabled FDA to dramatically reduce its review time for new animal drugs. ADUFA allows medications to be introduced more quickly while maintaining high standards for safety and effectiveness.

NPPC provided oral comments at the meeting, noting that animal health products are tools to help ensure safe, wholesome, abundant protein. It urged a "clean" reauthorization of ADUFA. Wagstrom recently cited the ADUFA legislation as a possible vehicle backers of the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA) may attempt to use to attach their bill as an amendment.

During the 2008 reauthorization process, groups opposed to modern livestock production sought to include an amendment to ban certain antibiotics from use in food animals.

Read more about ADUFA.

Source: NPPC