Youth Producer Guide to the Veterinary Feed Directive – Effective January 2017

The Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) rules enacted in October 2015 require livestock farmers to correctly apply VFD Orders and retain all VFD Orders for two (2) years, producing them for inspection when requested to do so.

VFD Orders may be stored electronically or as hard copy paper.

What is a VFD? A VFD is a written (nonverbal) statement issued by a licensed veterinarian in the course of the veterinarian’s professional practice that authorizes the use of a VFD drug or combination VFD drug in or on an animal feed. This written statement authorizes the client (the owner of the animal or animals or other caretaker) to obtain and use animal feed bearing or containing a VFD drug or combination VFD drug to treat the client’s animals only in accordance with the conditions for use approved, conditionally approved, or indexed by the FDA. A VFD is also referred to as a VFD order.

What Should Be on a VFD Order?

This information is required on a lawful VFD order:

• veterinarian’s name, address, and telephone number;
• client’s name, business or home address, and telephone number;
• premises at which the animals specified in the VFD are located;
• date of VFD issuance;
• expiration date of the VFD;
• name of the VFD drug(s);
• species and production class of animals to be fed the VFD feed;
• approximate number of animals to be fed the VFD feed by the expiration date of the VFD;
• indication for which the VFD is issued;
• level of VFD drug in the feed and duration of use;
• withdrawal time, special instructions, and cautionary statements necessary for use of the drug in conformance with the approval;
• number of reorders (refills) authorized, if permitted by the drug approval, conditional approval, or index listing;
• statement: “Use of feed containing this veterinary feed directive (VFD) drug in a manner other than as directed on the labeling (extralabel use), is not permitted”;
• an affirmation of intent for combination VFD drugs as described in 21 CFR 558.6(b)(6); and veterinarian’s electronic or written signature.
• For more information about the VFD, visit http://www.fda.gov/safefeed

Download the 4 page pamphlet here: Veterinary Feed Directive 2017 or here: https://uwmadison.box.com/s/yo8dga5ajltsgk06fs9ogiqqpukoz2ek . Please note that this is the most current information we have been provided at this time and can be subject to change.

Watch an information video here: https://youtu.be/j0SpgprhG9c

Updates:
FDA Revises Extra Label Use of Medicated Feeds for Minor Species (Sheep and Goats), Dec 2, 2016

Additional Resources on VFD

1. http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/ucm071807.htm
2. https://www.beefcattleinstitute.org/veterinary-feed-directive/
3. http://feedstuffs.com/vfd.aspx
4. http://www.pork.org/production-topics/antibiotics-resource-center/
5. http://www.beefusa.org/antibioticsresourcecenter.aspx
6. https://www.zoetisus.com/responsible-antibiotic-use/vfd.aspx
7. https://www.globalvetlink.com/vfdsurvivalwebinars/