What's happening
This bill prohibits the non-therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents in food-producing animals and bans sale of related products.
Why it matters
Addresses public health risks. by aiming to curb the development of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, which can arise when antibiotics are overused in agriculture and then spread to humans, making common infections harder to treat.
Could shift farming practices. , requiring producers to rely more on improved animal husbandry, sanitation, and vaccination rather than routine antibiotic use for growth or disease prevention, potentially raising production costs but promoting animal welfare.
Affects food supply chain and consumer choices. by banning the sale of meat, eggs, milk, or related products from animals given antibiotics for non-therapeutic purposes, regardless of where the animals were raised, which may influence what’s available in stores and how products are labeled.
Enforces compliance with criminal penalties. , making violations a class A misdemeanor, signaling the seriousness of the issue and aiming to deter non-compliance among producers and sellers.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Routine Animal Antibiotics
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to agriculture
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Ban Antibiotics for Animal Growth
In Senate Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Brian Kavanagh
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1844
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2017
Introduced by Sen. SQUADRON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to nontherapeutic use of antimicrobial agents in animals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new section 84 to read as follows:
§ 84. Non-therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents. 1. As used in this section:
(a) "Antimicrobial agent" shall mean any drug or derivative of a drug that is used in humans or intended for use in humans to treat or prevent disease or infection, or any substance, whether produced synthetically or naturally, used to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, or other microorganisms.
(b)"Non-therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents" shall mean any use of antimicrobial agents, including without limitation as a feed or water additive, for an animal for growth promotion, feed efficiency, weight gain, routine disease prevention, or other routine purpose, in the absence of any clinical sign of disease in the animal.
2. (a) No person shall engage in the non-therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents in cattle, poultry, sheep, swine, or any animal raised for the purpose of providing food for human consumption, including animals that provide non-meat food products such as eggs and milk.
(b) No person shall sell, expose for sale, or transport for sale within this state, regardless of place of origin, any food product derived from an animal that has been subject to non-therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents.
3. Violation of this section shall constitute a class A misdemeanor.
4. The commissioner shall promulgate and adopt rules and regulations to give full effect to the provisions of this section.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01148-01-7
S. 1844 2
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to non-therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents in animals
Purpose
To prohibit the non-therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents in animals raised for human consumption.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill adds a new section 84 to the agriculture and markets law to prohibit the non-therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents in animals raised for human consumption, including animals that provide non-meat food products such as eggs and milk. The new section 84 defines antimicrobial agent and the non-therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents, prohibits the sale and transport of such animal products, and allows the commissioner of the department of agriculture and markets to promulgate and adopt rules and regulations to give effect to the law. The legislation provides that violation of this section will constitute a class A misdemeanor.
Section 2 of the bill sets forth the effective date.
Justification
The purpose of the bill is to address concerns about antibiotic resistant infections in humans and other potentially adverse effects of routine exposure to antimicrobial agents in the food supply, as well as the resulting increase in health care costs. This legislation would ban the non-therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents in cattle, poultry, sheep, swine, and any other animal raised for human consumption, including animals that provide non-meat food products. Banning the use of antimicrobial agents in healthy animals is important, as excessive use may result in stronger and more drug-resistant strains of bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other microorganisms that endanger human health.
European Union regulation 1831/2003/EC bans antibiotics in livestock outright, while a federal bill, the "Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act," (HR 1552-2015) exemplifies the momentum behind this movement in the United States. Well-known organizations concerned about antibiotic resistance include the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and the American Medical Association.
Legislative history
2016: S201/A5948 - REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE/referred to agriculture 2015: S201/A5948 - REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE/referred to agriculture 2013-2014: S233/A769- REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE/referred to agriculture 2011-2012: S80/A5582- NOTICE OF COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION REQUESTED/referred to agriculture 2009-2010: S7949/A11272- REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE/referred to agriculture
Fiscal impact on the state
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.