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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.
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.
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).