HOUSE RESOLUTION 16
(By Delegates Kimble, Anderson, Brooks, Burkhammer, Butler, Cannon, Chiarelli, Clark, Coop-Gonzalez, Cooper, Crouse, Dean, DeVault, Dillon, Dittman, Fast, Fehrenbacher, Ferrell, Foggin, Forsht, Gearheart, A. Hall, W. Hall, Heckert, Hillenbrand, Hite, Holstein, Honaker, Horst, Hott, Householder, Jeffries, Jennings, Keaton, Kirby, Kump, Linville, Longanacre, Lucas, Mallow, Marple, Martin, Maynor, Mazzocchi, McGeehan, Miller, Nestor, Petitto, Phillips, Pinson, C. Pritt, Reynolds, Ridenour, Riley, Rohrbach, Ross, Shamblin, Smith, Steele, Street, Thorne, Tully, Vance, Ward, Warner, Westfall, Willis, Worrell, and Zatezalo)
February 21, 2023
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources then the Committee on Rules
Resolution calling for condemnation of the new FDA regulations.
Whereas, The United States Food and Drug Administration hereinafter ("FDA") has released new guidelines pertaining to medically important animal drugs and medications containing antimicrobials for utilization in both companion and production-use or agricultural farm animals; and
Whereas, These same animal drugs or medications are currently approved for over-the-counter ("OTC") marketing; and
Whereas, Under the new guidelines the FDA has released for 2023, many familiar and currently easily accessible antibiotics used by farmers and ranchers, as well as other livestock owners, will no longer be available OTC; and
Whereas, By June 11, 2023, labels of those remaining OTC antibiotics will be required to read: "Caution: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian"; and
Whereas, This new FDA regulation will create a health crisis in animals and for rural animal owners, farmers, ranchers, or those in agriculture and have animals in need of such medications; and
Whereas, The new FDA guidelines will make these life-saving animal medications nearly unattainable for those in rural communities without access to on-call or nearby veterinary care; and
Whereas, The new restrictions will place undue burden and cause devastation in rural areas when a need for animal care arises; and
Whereas, The need for a prescription for these medications that have previously been readily available will cause harm to livestock and animals across the state of West Virginia for those without nearby veterinary care or access to on-call animal care; and
Whereas, This will lead to illness, disease, suffering, and destruction in sick animals and will lead to grave outcomes; and
Whereas, The economic burden to animal and livestock owners will result in devastation to rural communities; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That the West Virginia House of Delegates condemns the new FDA regulations and asks those in Congress; specifically, Senators Capito and Manchin, as well as Representatives Miller and Mooney, and the federal government to rescind GFI No. 263 and require that the necessary animal drugs and medications remain easily accessible; and, be it
Further resolved, That the Clerk is to forward a copy of this resolution to the United States Food and Drug Administration.