FDA announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2016 funds to support the collection of data on antimicrobial use in animal agriculture.

The funded data collection efforts are intended to 1) provide needed information on antimicrobial use practices in various animal production settings (i.e.,

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cattle, swine, and poultry) and 2) provide important information on data collection methodologies to help optimize long-term strategies for collecting and reporting such data.

This cooperative agreement will enable the collection of critical information to support the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria objective to enhance monitoring of antibiotic usage and management practices in food-producing animals.

The data obtained will support efforts to:
(1) assess the rate of adoption of changes outlined in the FDA’s Guidance for Industry #213; (2) help gauge the success of antibiotic stewardship efforts and guide their continued evolution and optimization; and (3) assess associations between antibiotic use practices and resistance.