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No more antibiotic use in California?
Published Friday, March 06, 2009 at 07:36 AM
A California state legislator has introduced a bill that would practically end the use of antibiotics in animal agriculture. The bill would, as of January 1, 2012, prohibit schools from serving poultry and meat products which have been treated with antibiotics for non-therapeutic and prophylactic purposes. Then three years later the law would be applied to the production of any human food producted in the state. The bill would also prohibit state and local governments in California from purchasing meat supplies raised using antibiotics for non-therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.

The bill was introduced by Dean Florez, the California Senate majority leader and chairman of the food and agriculture committee. Previously, Florez introduced a measure that would ban tail-docking in dairy cattle. Michael Marsh, chief executive officer for Western United Dairmen, said - we’re curious to see where Florez is going with this legislation. The majority of what he’s proposing is unconstitutional.

Last September Dr. Craig Rowles, a veterinarian and partner with Elite Pork in Carroll, Iowa told the House Agriculture subcommittee that the U.S. pork industry has established programs that include principles and guidelines on antibiotic use that help protect animal and public health and animal well-being. He added, - as a swine veterinarian, I need all the tools available to live up to my oath - to protect animal health, relieve animal suffering and promote public health.

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