California to restrict antibiotic use in livestock sector

California state legislator, Dean Florez, has introduced a bill to restrict antibiotic use in the livestock industry.

The bill forbids a school or school district from serving poultry and meat products originating from antibiotic-treated animals, effective January 1, 2012.

People will also be forbid to use antibiotics for non-therapeutic and prophylactic use in any animal raised for the production of any human food product, effective January 1, 2015.

The bill also requires state and local governments, when purchasing meat supplies, to favour meat supplies produced without the use of antibiotics as feed additives.

The majority of the proposal is unconstitutional, said Michael Marsh, CEO of Western United Dairymen.

An informational hearing to address the California bill will take place on March 17, 2009.