The Food and Drug Administration is seeking public comments on potential changes to its regulation of veterinary feed directive (VFD) drugs. The regulation, which went into effect in 2001, sets requirements for the distribution and use of VFD drugs and animal feeds containing such drugs. The FDA reaffirmed that certain new animal drugs should get approved for use in animal feed only if these medicated feeds are administered under a veterinarian’s supervision. While a few VFD animal drug products are approved, informal comments sent to the FDA characterized the VFD process as burdensome. In addition, concern was raised that the current process will face problems as the number of approved VFD animal drugs grows. When veterinary oversight of a medicated feed is deemed necessary, it is important that such supervision be facilitated through an efficient VFD process, the FDA said. The agency is conducting the review to determine whether changes are warranted to improve the program’s efficiency. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-6872.pdf. <HOME>
