It's about to get more difficult for smaller producers to gain access to animal antibiotics. Here's the reasoning.

To help producers get ahead of the upcoming GFI No. 263 changes, Valley Vet Supply technical service veterinarians Lacey Fahrmeier and Tony Hawkins discuss things producers can do to transition smoothly into the new regulations.  

Are you feeling anxious about the upcoming change of over-the-counter medically important antibiotics shifting to a prescription status in June? Don’t be. It can be a very smooth transition by focusing on what you’ve always been focusing on: excellent animal husbandry.

In a recent Penn State webinar on Dec. 6, 2022, Hayley Springer, DVM, discussed how over-the-counter “medically important” drugs will shift from an over-the-counter status to a prescription status effective on June 11, 2023.

After June 11, 2023, producers will need a prescription from a licensed veterinarian to purchase the products listed by the FDA. This means the products will no longer be available for purchase from a retailer via e-commerce or at a brick-and-mortar retailer without a prescription from a veterinarian.