FDA Issues Florfenicol Reminder
After receiving reports that some aquaculture producers are lacing pelleted fish feed with an antibiotic designed to combat a common bacterial infection in catfish, the Food and Drug Administration in July reminded producers that the practice is illegal.
The drug, florfenicol, is approved for use in fish only as a Veterinary Feed Directive drug—drugs used in or on animal feed under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. The FDA has approved or conditionally approved only two VFD florfenicol products for use in catfish and salmonid feed.
Using a form of florfenicol other than the product form approved for use in or on feed is against the law and can result in illegal drug residues in fish; be unsafe for the fish, or be ineffective in treating the specific diseases for which it is approved.
The Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act does not permit the extra-label use of a drug in or on feed.
It also is illegal to sell, promote or advertise animal drugs until they are approved or conditionally approved. For approval information on such drugs, see the listing at http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/Development
ApprovalProcess/MinorUseMinorSpecies/ucm125445.htm. [September 2009 PET AGE]
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