What's happening
This bill bans the non-therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents in food-producing animals and products in New York.
Why it matters
Addresses antibiotic resistance. By banning non-therapeutic antimicrobial use in food animals, the bill targets a major driver of antibiotic-resistant infections in humans, which are a growing public health threat and can make common illnesses harder to treat.
Impacts food producers and supply chains. Farmers and producers will need to change animal husbandry practices, possibly increasing reliance on improved hygiene, vaccination, or other disease prevention methods, which could affect operational costs and animal health management.
Affects the market for animal products. The bill not only restricts on-farm antimicrobial use, but also prohibits the sale or transport of animal products (including eggs and milk) from animals that have been given these drugs for non-therapeutic purposes, regardless of where the animals were raised, potentially influencing sourcing and labeling practices.
Enforcement and compliance implications. Violations are classified as a class A misdemeanor, signaling strict enforcement. The commissioner is tasked with creating detailed regulations, so there could be ongoing updates or clarifications affecting how the law is implemented in practice.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Routine Animal Antibiotics
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 26
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to agriculture
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2367
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 24, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KAVANAGH -- 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.
LBD02175-01-9
S. 2367 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
Owners and operators of petroleum bulk storage facilities, in cities with a population of one million or more persons, shall be required to undertake comprehensive accident prevention planning and shall hire an independent company to quarterly audit the implementation of the hazard control plan.
Justification
The purpose of the bill is to address concerns about antibiotic resist- ant 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, includ- ing 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
2018: S7037 - REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE 2017: S1844/A8575 - REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE/stricken 2016: S201/A5948 - REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE/referred to agriculture 2015: S201/A5948 - 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 neces- sary 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.