What are the laws governing the use of antibiotics in animal agriculture?

In Texas, animal agriculture laws include regulations on the use of antibiotics. In general, these laws state that only licensed veterinarians may distribute or administer antibiotics to an animal, and only if it is necessary to prevent, control, or treat a specific disease in an animal. A veterinarian may also use antibiotics to enhance the growth or production of an animal; however, the use of antibiotics for this purpose must be prescribed and supervised by a licensed veterinarian. The Texas Administrative Code (TAC), which implements the state’s regulations, also requires that veterinarians properly document any use of antibiotics, including the name and dose of the antibiotic, the reason for the prescription, and any other related information. Additionally, the TAC requires that all antibiotics must be administered in accordance with the label instructions and the labeling must be kept on file and easily accessible by regulatory authorities. The TAC also requires the labeling of any food containing antibiotic residues and prohibits the sale of any food that contains an antibiotic at levels that exceed the established tolerances and concentration levels. If there is an outbreak of an infectious disease, these antibiotics must be prescribed and administered under the supervision of a veterinarian. In addition, the TAC also prohibits the use of antibiotics in animals if it results in drug residues in food. The regulations also state that a veterinarian may only give antibiotics to a food-producing animal if there is a specific clinical indication, such as a bacterial infection, and the drug must not be administered within 29 days of slaughter. Furthermore, 14 days must pass before the animal is harvested for human consumption.

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What are the laws governing the use of antibiotics in animal agriculture?

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