CITIZEN PETITION TO THE FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH FROM UNSAFE USES OF ANTIBIOTICS IN LIVESTOCK & POULTRY

The petition argues that the routine use of medically important antibiotics (MIAs) in livestock and poultry—specifically for disease prevention and long durations—creates antibiotic-resistant bacteria that threaten human health. It claims that the FDA has a mandatory duty under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to withdraw approvals for uses that are not shown to be safe. The document asserts that current voluntary compliance programs are insufficient and that improved animal husbandry can eliminate the need for routine antibiotic use. It requests that the FDA withdraw specific drug indications, set strict duration limits (e.g., prohibiting use beyond 21 days), implement species-specific data collection via feed-distribution records, and establish sector-specific reduction targets.

• The routine use of antibiotics in animal feed and water for disease prevention rather than treatment of diagnosed diseases creates antibiotic-resistant bacteria that cause approximately 35,000 deaths and over two million illnesses annually in the United States.
• The FDA is legally obligated under the FFDCA to withdraw approval for any animal drug use that does not present a "reasonable certainty of no harm" to human health, a standard the petitioners argue is not met by routine preventive use of MIAs.
• Routine antibiotic use for disease prevention is unnecessary for successful livestock production, as evidenced by the chicken industry's lower use rates and the success of organic and "raised without antibiotics" meat.
• Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes are transferred from livestock to humans through multiple pathways, including contaminated meat, air, water, and direct occupational exposure for farmworkers.
• The FDA's reliance on voluntary industry compliance and non-binding guidance (such as GFI #213 and GFI #263) has failed to adequately reduce the risk of harm, with MIA sales for cattle and swine increasing since 2017.
• Long-duration antibiotic use (defined by the FDA as over 21 days for high-risk drugs) increases the risk of resistance and the development of adaptive mutations in bacteria.
• Current FDA data collection is inadequate because it relies on national sales data, which does not specify the reason for use (e.g., prevention vs. treatment); the petition suggests using Veterinary Feed Directives (VFDs) and feed-mill records for better tracking.

APA

Earthjustice (n.d.). CITIZEN PETITION TO THE FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH FROM UNSAFE USES OF ANTIBIOTICS IN LIVESTOCK & POULTRY. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/antibiotic-petition-final.pdf

Chicago

Earthjustice. CITIZEN PETITION TO THE FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH FROM UNSAFE USES OF ANTIBIOTICS IN LIVESTOCK & POULTRY. n.d. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/antibiotic-petition-final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Earthjustice |title=CITIZEN PETITION TO THE FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH FROM UNSAFE USES OF ANTIBIOTICS IN LIVESTOCK & POULTRY |url=https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/antibiotic-petition-final.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{earthjusticendcitizen, author = {{Earthjustice}}, title = {{CITIZEN PETITION TO THE FOOD \& DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH FROM UNSAFE USES OF ANTIBIOTICS IN LIVESTOCK \& POULTRY}}, publisher = {Earthjustice}, url = {https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/antibiotic-petition-final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }