Veterinary Feed Directive: A Veterinarian’s Perspective
2017
- Food Armor Foundation
Project Media
The Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), now in effect as of January 1st, 2017, is a major change within animal agriculture. As part of the FDA’s larger initiative against antibiotic resistance, the VFD aims to bring all feed medications containing medically important antibiotics under the oversight and supervision of a licensed veterinarian. With the growing demand for transparency of animal care and antibiotic stewardship in animal agriculture, the VFD is a necessary next step to meet the demands of consumers. “The actions the FDA has taken to date represent important steps toward a fundamental change in how antimicrobials can be legally used in food producing animals,” said Michael R. Taylor, FDA deputy commissioner for foods. “The VFD final rule takes another important step by facilitating veterinary oversight in a way that allows for the flexibility needed to accommodate the diversity of circumstances that veterinarians encounter, while ensuring such oversight is conducted in accordance with nationally consistent principles.”