Reauthorization of Animal Drug User Fee Act Needed

The reauthorization of Animal Drug User Fee Act is one of the top priorities for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association as set by its members. This legislation authorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to collect fees for certain animal drug applications. This allows pharmaceutical companies to pay a user fee to FDA, which is used to hire additional technical staff. By hiring additional technical staff, FDA is able to approve future animal health products without adding to the burden on taxpayers.
NCBA Executive Director of Legislative Affairs Kristina Butts explains why this is one of the NCBA priorities.
Butts: “The Animal Drug User Fee Act also known as ADUFA this is an agreement between Food and Drug Administration -- the FDA -- and the animal pharmaceutical companies that produce products and technologies that cattle producers use on their farms and operations. This agreement has to be authorized by Congress. It is a five-year authorization and it has to be passed and authorized by Congress by September 30th of this year. Otherwise we lose 90 technical staff at the Food and Drug Administration who review new technologies coming on board in the animal arena.”

Cattlemen and women work with veterinarians to implement comprehensive herd-health management plans, which include the appropriate use of antibiotics to prevent, control and treat diseases in cattle. These antibiotics are made specifically for cattle to help animals regain and maintain superior health.