Understanding Poultry Medication Regulations

Key Definitions 

VFD: Veterinary Feed Directive; a written statement from a veterinarian that prescribes antimicrobials for use in animal feed. 

Antimicrobial Drugs: Medications that kill or stop the growth of microorganisms. Some examples include antibiotics (which target bacteria) and antifungals (which target fungi). 

Antimicrobial Resistance: When pathogens such as bacteria or fungi are exposed to an antimicrobial drug, they may change over time and stop responding to treatment with that medication. There are a growing number of pathogens that have become resistant to common antimicrobials, such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), prompting action to promote more judicious use of antimicrobials in both human and animal medicine.

Pesticides: Per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for:

• Preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest (including plants, insects, animals, and microorganisms).
• Use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant.
• Use as a nitrogen stabilizer.

Major and Minor Food Animal Species: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies chickens and turkeys as "major" food animal species, with the strictest medication regulations. All other poultry species, such as ducks, geese, gamebirds, and peafowl, are classified as "minor" food animal species.

Prescription: A written order from an individual who is licensed to practice medicine (i.e., veterinarians) that authorizes the usage of a medication or treatment in a patient.

Meat/egg withdrawal: The time period following administration of a medication to a food animal during which the meat and/or eggs should not be used for human consumption due to possibility of drug residues.

Legal Background 

In January 2017, out of a concern for rising cases of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, the FDA issued new guidelines for usage in animals of antimicrobials important for human health, specifically those administered in feed or water. Many antimicrobial medications that were available to purchase over the counter at feed stores were changed to require a prescription from a veterinarian, including some commonly used medications for poultry species.

In June 2023, a new directive from the FDA further restricted the sale of over-the-counter antimicrobial products by ordering that all medically important antimicrobials used in animal species would now require a prescription from a veterinarian. This directive serves as a continuation of the FDA's work to combat antimicrobial resistance by requiring veterinary oversight for the administration of all antimicrobials in animals that are important for treating human diseases.

Veterinary oversight for the usage of these medications helps to promote more thoughtful antimicrobial administration. Not only are veterinarians experienced in determining the appropriate disease cases for antimicrobial usage, but they are also able to investigate the source of the infection and perform culture and sensitivity tests to determine which specific antimicrobial drug is most appropriate for the disease. Veterinarians are also able to provide guidance on egg and/or meat withdrawal times that need to be followed after the administration of an antimicrobial. 

Medications that are still available over the counter in poultry

Some antimicrobials that have been deemed not medically important for humans are still available over the counter for use in poultry species. You can likely find these medications at your local feed store, as they can be purchased without a veterinary prescription. However, it’s still recommended that you work alongside a veterinarian when dealing with illness in your flock, as they can help to accurately diagnose disease and provide guidance on the proper treatment. These medications may still cause adverse effects, especially if used incorrectly, and may still require egg and meat withdrawals.

Table 1 lists some common medications that are available over the counter for use in poultry. It is also important to note that medications that can be purchased over the counter may still require a prescription from a veterinarian or may be prohibited if you use the drug in a manner that deviates from the label direction (dosage, usage in a different species, length of administration, etc.). For example, Safe-Guard^® is only approved for use in turkeys and would need a prescription before administering to other poultry species. Additionally, topical and premises pesticides, such as Permethrin-based products, are regulated by the EPA, and usage of these drugs in any way that deviates from the label is prohibited. For these reasons, it is crucial that you read the drug label carefully before administering any medication to your birds.

Antimicrobials currently banned in all poultry

Many antimicrobial drugs have been prohibited for use in poultry species due to concerns such as antimicrobial resistance or potential harmful effects to human health if drug residues make it into the food supply. Table 2 lists some antimicrobials that are currently prohibited for use in poultry species that may still be prescribed to humans and/or other animal species.

But what if I agree to keep my birds out of the food supply?

Federal laws do not make any distinction between poultry used in commercial settings and those raised in backyard settings or as pets. Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee that backyard birds or their products will not end up being used for human consumption. Even if you vow that you would not use your birds for meat or eggs after administering antimicrobials to them, imagine these scenarios which could take that control out of your hands:

• One or more of your birds escapes and ends up being taken in by someone else.
• You have someone take care of your flock while you’re away.
• A flock caretaker passes away and ownership of the flock is left to someone else.
• You need to rehome some or all of your birds due to unexpected life changes (moving away, illness, financial reasons, etc.).

This is not an all-encompassing list, but it’s not difficult to imagine situations in which someone else may take temporary or permanent responsibility for your birds. Veterinarians would break federal law by prescribing prohibited antimicrobials to your flock, and they could lose their license if residues from these drugs were found in meat or eggs that came from your birds.

How to best prepare for illness in your flock

The best way to ensure that you will have access to the appropriate medications to treat your flock during a disease challenge is to build a relationship with your local veterinarian. In order for a veterinarian to prescribe antimicrobials to your birds, you need to develop a veterinary-client-patient-relationship (VCPR). The criteria for developing a VCPR does vary slightly by state, but all must follow the stipulations laid out by the FDA. A VCPR is defined by the FDA in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) as meeting all of the following parameters:

• A veterinarian has assumed the responsibility for making medical judgments regarding the health of (an) animal(s) and the need for medical treatment, and the client (the owner of the animal or animals or other caretaker) has agreed to follow the instructions of the veterinarian; and
• There is sufficient knowledge of the animal(s) by the veterinarian to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition of the animal(s); and
• The practicing veterinarian is readily available for follow-up in case of adverse reactions or failure of the regimen of therapy. Such a relationship can exist only when the veterinarian has recently seen and is personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the animal(s) by virtue of examination of the animal(s), and/or by medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the animal(s) are kept.

Finding a veterinarian and meeting these requirements to develop a VCPR is not something you want to be worrying about while handling a medical emergency in your flock. It’s also important to develop this relationship with your veterinarian not just so that you can obtain prescription medications, but also so that a veterinarian can routinely examine your flock to catch diseases early and make recommendations for preventative medicine. Poultry are prey animals and try to hide any indications of being sick so that they don't make an easy target for predators; a veterinarian can work with you to identify subtle signs of disease that may normally go unnoticed until the illness has become advanced.

For help working up flock problems, please contact the Penn State Animal Diagnostic Lab.

Phone number: 814-863-0837

Email: adlhelp@psu.edu

Authors: Dana Bubka; Dr. Kayla Niel, DVM, MS; Dr. Megan Lighty, DVM, PhD, DACPV