US mulls on broader antibiotics bill

 

 

Momentum for a legislative ban on antibiotics in animal feed has gained significant traction in the US, and some stakeholders are now weighing the feasibility of passing a broader bill that would also include economic incentives for the development of new antimicrobial drugs.

 

An omnibus antibiotics bill would also include measures to ban the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in animals by reserving seven classes of antimicrobials for humans only and establish a federal infrastructure to address antibiotic resistance.

 

The future of legislation banning antibiotics in animal feed is complicated by a key Senate lawmaker with agriculture ties, health committee Chair Tom Harkin (D-IA), who has not yet taken a stance on the bill.

 

Supporters hope Harkin will either support them or remain out of the fight so as not to hinder passage of the antimicrobials in animal feed restriction. Adding incentives for antimicrobial development potentially could make the feed measure more palatable for Harkin and Democrats from rural communities, sources said.

 

The broader legislation would insulate the ban with other measures that could potentially mitigate opposition to the bill and provide lawmakers with additional reasons to support the legislation. A supporter of the feed measure said the broader bill could provide cover to "some fence-sitting" lawmakers who would otherwise face resistance if they voted for the legislation.

 

Moreover, this larger bill could include measures that would not carry enough weight independently.

 

The most controversial element of a broader antimicrobial package would be based on the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act - introduced by House Rules Committee Chair Louise Slaughter (D-NY) - that would implement the ban on antibiotics in animal feed. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced a companion measure in the Senate.

 

An animal drug source said the industry would still likely oppose an omnibus package, saying many of the elements of the proposal appear to contradict each other. The source said that limiting antibiotics in animal feed and at the same time fueling antibiotic development are opposing initiatives. "You're doing two contradictory things there," the source said, adding that a final decision to oppose or support any tax incentive legislation would depend on the exact language of the measure.

 

Along with PAMTA, the broader antibiotics bill could include the Strategies to Address Antimicrobial Resistance Act, which was introduced last year by Energy and Commerce Committee member Jim Matheson (D-UT) and has been slow picking up cosponsors. The bill would boost efforts to monitor antibiotic resistance and improve coordination among federal agencies.

 

However, the animal drug source said the STAAR bill would duplicate other federal initiatives and add additional layers of bureaucracy to the animal pharmaceutical approval process.

 

Aside from a larger antibiotics bill, stakeholders are also lobbying Harkin on the animal antibiotics ban and both sides of the debate recently held briefings with the lawmaker. Harkin served as the honorary host of a Capitol Hill briefing this week that included presentations from academics and scientists in support of the ban.