California Adopts Strict Limits on Antibiotic Use in Food-Producing Livestock
Citing an "urgent public health problem," Gov. Jerry Brown (D) on Saturday signed a bill (SB 27) to limit the amount of antibiotics used on livestock, which can contribute to antibiotic-resistant diseases among humans. The bill -- which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2018 -- requires medications given to livestock to be approved by a veterinarian. In a signing message, Brown said, "The science is clear that the overuse of antibiotics in livestock has contributed to the spread of antibiotic resistance and the undermining of decades of life-saving advances in medicine."
- "California Now Has Strictest Limits in U.S. on Livestock Antibiotics" (Williams, "State of Health," AP/KQED, 10/10).
- "California Adopts Tough Rules for Antibiotic Use in Farm Animals" (Baertlein, Reuters, 10/10).
- "California To Restrict Antibiotics Use in Farm Animals" (McGreevy, "PolitiCal," Los Angeles Times, 10/10).
- "Governor Approves Antibiotic Restrictions for California Livestock" (Nichols, "KXJZ News," Capital Public Radio, 10/10).