FDA Provides Information on the Use of Medically Important Antimicrobials in Bees

The FDA is announcing the availability of a Question and Answer document about the use of medically important antimicrobials in bees to provide helpful information to beekeepers and veterinarians. The Q&A titled “Using Medically Important Antimicrobials in Bees” responds to some commonly asked questions about the appropriate use of approved Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) and prescription (Rx) drug products for bees. In January 2017, the FDA and animal drug sponsors completed the voluntary process of transitioning medically important antimicrobial drugs used in animal feed or water from over-the–counter (OTC) marketing status to VFD or Rx marketing status under FDA’s Guidance for Industry (GFI) #213. This marked an important step forward in national efforts to address the use of medically important antimicrobials and promote antimicrobial stewardship in animals. Certain medically important antimicrobial drugs affected by this process are approved for use in bees. As a result, beekeepers have raised questions about how the changes affect them.