The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will require veterinary supervision of all medically important antimicrobials starting June 11, 2023, following the implementation of Guidance for Industry No. 263.
GIF 263 is designed to slow antimicrobial resistance and preserve the effectiveness of medications made for people and animals. Manufacturers of drugs formulated for the treatment, control or prevention of certain diseases worked with the FDA to change their products’ marketing status from over the counter to prescription.
GFI 263 expands GFI 213, which placed about 96% of medically important antimicrobials used in animals under veterinary oversight. When fully implemented, GFI 263 will require veterinary supervision of all medically important antimicrobials. It also prevents such products from being used for production purposes, such as for promoting animal growth.
Medications switched to prescription only include injectable tylosin; injectable and intramammary penicillin; injectable and oral tetracycline; sulfadimethoxine and sulfamethazine; cephapirin and cephapirin benzathine intramammary tubes; lincomycin; erythromycin; and gentamicin.
Veterinarians who prescribe those medications must establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship first.
Vaccines, dewormers, injectable and oral nutritional supplements, ionophores, probiotics, prebiotics and topical nonantibiotic treatments will not require a veterinary prescription.
More details are at bit.ly/3SSKWEl.