The National Pork Board and National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) applaud the action steps defined by the White House through the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB). The report issued March 31 stated U.S. pork producers having been doing their part to tackle the growing resistance problem.

“Antibiotics are essential tools for veterinarians and farmers in raising healthy livestock and producing safe food,” said John Johnson, the National Pork Board’s chief operating officer. “We are pleased to see the administration acknowledge the very real changes occurring on farms across America in accordance with new federal guidance.”

“For at least the past 10 years, pork producers have taken steps to address the resistance issue, so we agree with these recommendations, particularly the need for adequate funding,” said NPPC President John Weber, a pork producer from Dysart, Iowa. “Pork producers support changes to confront this very serious problem, and we will continue to do our part.”

PACCARB recommended that federal agencies involved in the effort to address antibiotic resistant take a number of steps, including embracing a “One Health” approach that looks at the resistance issue from a human, animal and environmental prospective; improving coordination and collaboration among agencies; establishing partnerships with states and local agencies, tribes, private-sector organizations, commodity groups, philanthropic organizations and international bodies; providing economic incentives for developing and deploying new diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic tools to fight diseases; and committing sufficient resources to address the resistance problem.