Antimicrobial Use and Stewardship
CDFA-AUS  •  1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814  •  916-576-0300
  1. CDFA Home
  2. AHFSS
  3. Antimicrobial Use and Stewardship
  4. About AUS

About the AUS Program

California Senate Bill 27 (Hill), signed by Governor Brown on October 10, 2015, resulted in additions to the California Food and Agricultural Code (Division 7, Chapter 4.5, Sections 14400-14408) that address the use of medically important antimicrobial drugs in livestock, development of antimicrobial stewardship guidelines and best management practices, and surveillance of antimicrobial use as well as antimicrobial resistance patterns in bacteria.

In California, effective January 1st of 2018, over the counter injectable and all other medically important antimicrobials must be administered with a prescription or veterinary feed directive (VFD) ordered by a California licensed veterinarian under a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR). The law also requires the California Department of Food & Agriculture to ensure that livestock producers in rural areas continue to have timely access to antimicrobials.

Note that these changes are separate from the federal regulations regarding antimicrobials in feed and water that became effective on January 1, 2017.

AUS California Law

Livestock: Use of Antimicrobial Drugs (FAC § 14400 – 14408) California law effective as of January 1st, 2018
Livestock Drugs (FAC § 14200 – 14390) Existing California law referenced in the Livestock: Use of Antimicrobial Drugs law.

2018 Strategic Plan Finalized and approved plan to continue implementation through the AUS program in 2018.
October 2018 Update Overview of accomplishments made since the April 2018 Ad Hoc Advisory Meeting
April 2018 Update Overview of accomplishments made since the November 2017 Ad Hoc Advisory Meeting.

Description and highlights of different program activities for the fiscal year. In addition, the attached appendix provides more detailed information for a selection of AUS’ studies and projects.

Annual summaries of manufacturing and distribution data for California medicated feed containing a VFD drug or combination VFD drugs, by VFD order written by a licensed veterinarian.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Antimicrobial Use and Stewardship (AUS) program is tasked with implementing the directives of Food and Agricultural Code 14400-14408. AUS is responsible for assessment, education, and enforcement of antimicrobial use for livestock in California. The AUS 2019 Report to the Legislature aims to fulfill the mandate in FAC 14405 (d) by providing the results of the program’s outreach activities and monitoring efforts.
Press Release AUS 2019 Report to the Legislature

GFI #152 Appendix A identifies Medically, Highly, and Critically important antimicrobials. If an antimicrobial you use fits within a named class then FDA will consider it important. FDA also considers sulfonamides as important.
GFI #209 Introduces veterinary oversight and only necessary use as guiding principles.
GFI #213 Explains the changes FDA wants to see for the mass use of antimicrobial drugs (Feed and Water).

VFD Regulations The Federal Register
VFD Regulations Q & A GFI #120: VFD regulation Q & A
VFD Overview Video
Receive Updates by Email

More Resources

CDFA Animal Health and Food Safety Services CDFA Inspection Services FFLDRS Livestock Drug Program Veterinary Medical Board California Veterinary Medical Association CVMA Find a Veterinarian