The next Farm Foundation Forum will discuss the issue of antibiotics in food animal production. The May 14th discussion will bring together industry experts from production agriculture, the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory agencies to explore the challenges of phasing out the use of antimicrobial drugs in food-producing animals.

Farm Foundation President Neil Conklin will moderate the panel of experts in the field, including:

Dr. John Clifford, USDA APHIS
Cheri DeJong, a Texas dairy farmer
Grady Bishop, Elanco Animal Health
Dr. William Flynn, FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine

Since December 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued two Guidance for Industry (GFIs)–209 and 213–addressing “voluntary adopt of practices to ensure the appropriate or judicious use of medically important antimicrobial drugs in food-producing animals.” Increased veterinary oversight of the use of antimicrobials is also addressed. Most recently, FDA has also amended its Veterinary Feed Directive to require producers to have veterinary approval for the use of medically-important antibiotics in feed.

The free forum will be held in-person on May 14th from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the National Press Club, Washington, D.C. But if you’tre unable to attend, a live audiocast is available free of charge. More information is available here.