Location, location, location: How FDA defines ‘premises’
When issuing a veterinary feed directive (VFD), poultry veterinarians are expected to provide the physical location of birds receiving the VFD drug.
That sounds like a simple request, but what if there isn’t a street address for a remote farm or the address of a facility isn’t specific enough to determine the birds’ exact location?
FDA says veterinarians can use their discretion to provide a better description, such as the site, pen or barn.[1]
Veterinarians, however, should be sure to ask producers if birds will remain in the same place until the VFD expiration date. If there’s a chance they’ll be moved, it’s acceptable to include multiple but specific locations on the VFD.
One caveat: When a VFD is intended for multiple locations, the medicated feed must be supplied by a single manufacturer or distributor, FDA says.
[1] #120 Guidance for Industry Small Entity Compliance Guide Veterinary Feed Directive Regulation Questions and Answers. FDA.
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AnimalVeterinary/GuidanceComplianceEnforcement/GuidanceforIndustry/UCM052660.pdf Accessed December 15, 2015.
Posted on January 5, 2017
