EXTRA-LABEL DRUG USE (ELDU) AND THE ANIMAL MEDICINAL DRUG USE CLARIFICATION ACT (AMDUCA) - How THEY IMPACT THE PRODUCER, VETERINARIAN, PROCESSOR AND CONSUMER

摘要

Therapy of animal disease has evolved significantly over the last 100 years. The introduction of antibiotics and other therapeutic agents has allowed us to treat infection and better alleviate pain and suffering. A wide variety of pharmaceutical agents are marketed for treatment of humans and animals. However, only a minority of these products are specifically labeled for use in animals with an even smaller subset being labeled for use in dairy cattle. Hence, occasions arise where a drug must be usedin an extra-label fashion, that is, in a manner other than specified on the product label or package insert. Extra-label drug use (ELDU) is routinely employed by veterinarians to alleviate pain and suffering in ill animals. The Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act (AMDUCA) was enacted in 1994 and provides guidelines for ELDU in animals.