Medicated feeds and the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) in small ruminants

Abstract

The Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act of 1994 (AMDUCA) amended the Food Drug & Cosmetic Act to permit extralabel use of animal drugs under certain conditions. However, AMDUCA does not permit the extralabel use of medicated feed articles. Minor species such as sheep and goats (small ruminants) have very few animal drugs approved for their use and practitioners may determine that extralabel use is justified to prevent suffering and death. Compliance Policy Guide Sec. 615.115 Extralabel Use of Medicated Feeds for Minor Species (CPG 615.115) provides guidance on the current thinking of the Food and Drug Administration related to exercising enforcement discretion with regard to the extralabel use of medicated feeds in minor species. This presentation will walk through the CPG 615.115 from a practitioner’s perspective with goal of addressing common questions and situations where extralabel use of medicated feeds in sheep and goats may be indicated.