Eddy County Ag News

VFD Drugs List

Antimicrobial drugs used in human medicine are no longer available to livestock producers over-the-counter. Instead they are now considered Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) drugs, and the only time an animal producer can use VFD drugs in feed is when their use is ordered by a veterinarian. The reason for the change is to reduce the risk of the development of antimicrobial resistance. Veterinarians have the training and experience to ensure judicious use of the drugs.

The change in status took place in 2017, and while the change has gone smoothly, we continue to receive questions.  Our approach to compliance with the VFD rule is to focus on outreach. The more animal producers know about the rule, the more likely they will comply with it.

Here is a reminder of the antimicrobial drugs that are now under VFD status. This list was published by FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. (Note: If this page does not display correctly, refer to the attached PDF version. That version is also available for further distribution.)

VFD drugs	Examples of proprietary drug names (Type A medicated articles used to manufacture medicated feed; all products might not be marketed as of 11/01/17)
apramycin
avilamycin – a VFD drug since approval	Kavault
chlortetracycline – CTC	Aureomycin, CLTC, CTC, Chloratet, Chlorachel, ChlorMax, Chlortetracycline, Deracin, Inchlor, Pennchlor, Pfichlor
chlortetracycline/sulfamethazine – a fixed ratio combination drug	Aureo S, Aureomix S, Pennchlor S
chlortetracycline/sulfamethazine/penicillin – a fixed ratio combination drug	Aureomix 500, Chlorachel/Pficlor SP, Pennchlor SP, ChlorMax SP
erythromycin
florfenicol – a VFD drug since approval	Aquaflor, Nuflor
hygromycin B	Hygromix
lincomycin	Lincomix
neomycin
oxytetracycline – OTC	TM, OXTC, Oxytetracycline, Pennox, Terramycin
oxytetracycline/neomycin – a fixed ratio combination drug	Neo-Oxy, Neo-Terramycin
penicillin	Penicillin, Penicillin G Procaine
sulfadimethoxine/ormetoprim – a fixed ratio combination drug	Rofenaid, Romet
sulfamerazine
sulfaquinoxaline
tilmicosin – a VFD drug since approval	Pulmotil, Tilmovet
tylosin	Tylan, Tylosin, Tylovet
tylosin/sulfamethazine – a fixed ratio combination drug	Tylan Sulfa G, Tylan Plus Sulfa G, Tylosin Plus Sulfamethazine
tylvalosin – a VFD drug since approval	Aivlosin
virginiamycin	Stafac, Virginiamycin, V-Max

Antimicrobial drugs that are not on this list and that are approved for use in or on animal feed with over-the-counter marketing status may continue to be used in feed without an order from a veterinarian.

If you have other questions about the VFD rule, look at our VFD webpage, https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/ucm071807.htm.