California Senate Passes Bill Barring the Use of Human Antibiotics in Farm Animals for Non-Medical Reasons

On Thursday, the California Senate voted 34-1 to approve a bill (SB 835) that would prohibit farmers from using antibiotics in animals that were not prescribed by a veterinarian for medical purposes. The bill, which aims to combat an increase in antibiotic-resistant diseases among humans, also would require drug manufacturers to update labels for animal antibiotics to state that the drugs require a prescription. 

• "California Senate Advances Bill To Curb Antibiotics in Farm Animals" (Kearney, Reuters, 5/1).
• "California Senate OKs Rules for Antibiotic Use in Farm Animals" (McGreevy, "PolitiCal," Los Angeles Times, 5/1).