Featured Articles:
AVMA Expresses Concern over Antibiotics Legislation
By Dr. Ashley Shelton, Assistant Director of the GRD
The AVMA and other members of the animal health community continue to monitor and express concern over Congress legislating how and which antibiotics can be used in animal agriculture. In March, Senator Edward Kennedy (MA) and Representative Louise McIntosh Slaughter (28th-NY) re-introduced the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA). This legislation purports to preserve the effectiveness of medically important antibiotics used in the treatment of human and animal diseases by reviewing the safety of certain antibiotics used for 'non-therapeutic' purposes in food-producing animals. The bill defines "non-therapeutic use" as the use of a drug in an healthy animal... More »
H.R. 669: The Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act
By Dr. Angela Demaree, Assistant Director of the GRD
The AVMA Governmental Relations Division has been fielding many questions and concerns about H.R. 669 and its potential impact on many aspects of the veterinary profession. While our veterinarians agree that there is a need to address the issue of nonnative wildlife invasive species, they had significant concerns with the bill as written. As such, the AVMA now has an official position of Nonsupport.
The AVMA has consistently supported measures to prevent the entry of invasive species into the United States, including... More »
Red Flags Rule Update
By Gina Luke, Assistant Director of the GRD
The AVMA continues to advocate for a permanent end to the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) application of the Red Flags Rule to veterinarians and other health care professionals.
Although health care professionals are not specifically mentioned in the Final Rule, FTC staff attorneys took a position that health care professionals are "creditors" of patients or clients when they do not receive payment in full at the time of treatment or service delivery. As a result, the rule requires every health care professional... More »
Regulatory Update:
Years of Advocacy Pays Dividends for MUMS Drugs
By Dr. David Scarfe, Assistant Director, Scientific Activities Division
Many years of providing comments on emerging FDA regulations and working with Congress to refine legislative language are beginning to bear fruit. As a result, new drugs are being made available for minor species and minor uses (MUMS) in major species such as dogs, cats, horses, cattle, turkeys, swine and chickens. This is exemplified by the recent announcement by FDA of a... More »
FDA Plans to Increase Oversight of Opioid Prescriptions
Dr. Lynne White-Shim, Assistant Director, Scientific Activities Division
On February 9, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its plans to exercise broad new authorities under Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act (FDAAA) to require Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) for many of the opioid drug products.
A "REMS" is required if the FDA finds it is necessary to ensure that the benefits of a drug or biological product outweigh the risks... More »
Opportunities:
AVMAPAC Competition Ends June 30
The AVMA's Political Action Committee's (AVMAPAC) fundraising campaign continues! Victorious states and schools will win $1000 contributions to their scholarship funds. The financial clock began ticking on July 1, 2o08 and will run through June 30, 2009. The contest rankings can be seen in the right sidebar of this month's AVMA Advocate. A formal announcement of the scholarships and accompanying accolades will be made at the AVMA Annual Convention in Seattle in July. Contributions to AVMAPAC are voluntary, and contributors are assured that they may donate any amount or none at all, without fear of reprisal. AVMAPAC may not accept contributions from a corporate account. Contributions to AVMAPAC are not deductible as a charitable contribution for federal income tax purposes. AVMAPAC is only permitted to solicit AVMA members for contributions. Learn more about AVMAPAC: AVMA Members or Non-Members
Join us on Facebook
Join the hundreds of supporters of the Congressional Advocacy Network (AVMA-CAN) – including hundreds of people not affiliated with the veterinary profession – on the popular social networking site Facebook! AVMA-CAN now has a Facebook page. The page is used to help grow the network and amplify AVMA's advocacy efforts. Action alerts and information on pending legislation can be found there. The page is open to all Facebook users, so we encourage you, your family and friends to join our group to help advance the profession of veterinary medicine. Find AVMA-CAN's Facebook page here.
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