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Federal authorities issued a reminder about proper administration of the antimicrobial florfenicol to fish following reports of improper use.

The Food and Drug Administration stated July 16 it is illegal to use the product in any form except the form approved for use in or on feed, and illegal uses can result in drug residues, harm to fish, or treatment failure.

Florfenicol is approved as a Veterinary Feed Directive drug for use in catfish and salmonid feed, according to the FDA. The two florfenicol products approved as VFD drugs are Aquaflor and Aquaflor-CA1.

A press release from the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine indicates CVM authorities have received reports of producers illegally adding florfenicol to pelleted fish feed.

Veterinarians with questions about the use of the VFD for florfenicol in aquaculture can contact Fran Pell of the CVM compliance division at (240) 276-9211 or at frances.pell@fda.hhs.gov.

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