Food animals: medically important antimicrobial drugs.

Under existing law, the Secretary of Food and Agriculture has the responsibility of ensuring that livestock or poultry raised for the production of human food are not adulterated and that they are capable for use as human food. A violation of the laws and regulations relating to the adulteration of livestock or poultry products is a crime, punishable as specified. Existing law regulates the sale of livestock drugs by the secretary, and requires livestock drugs to be registered. This bill would prohibit the secretary from registering a medically important antimicrobial drug, as defined, that is administered to food animals, as defined, through feed or drinking water, unless prescribed requirements are met. The bill would, except as specified, provide that a medically important antimicrobial drug currently registered with the Department of Food and Agriculture that does not meet the prescribed requirements has until January 1, 2017, to meet the prescribed requirements and reregister with the secretary. The bill would prohibit a person from administering a medically important antimicrobial drug through feed or drinking water except pursuant to a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, as described. Because a violation of the bill's provisions would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.