LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION urging the New York State Congressional deleg-
ation to pass the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act
(PAMTA, H.R. 965/S.1211)

WHEREAS, H.R. 965/S.1211 would require the Federal Food and Drug Admin-
istration (FDA) to review the approvals previously issued for non-thera-
peutic uses of antibiotics in food-producing animals for seven classes
of antibiotics in order to preserve the effectiveness of these medically
important drugs used in the treatment of human and animal diseases; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, H.R. 965/S.1211 would require the withdrawal of
approval of non-therapeutic use of such antibiotics for animals unless
the Secretary of Agriculture can demonstrate within two years of passage
of the Act that there is a reasonable certainty of no harm to human
health due to the development of antibiotic resistance that is attribut-
able to such use of these drugs; and
WHEREAS, Antibiotics are used in food animal production for treating
sick animals, and for non-therapeutic purposes such as promoting animal
growth, weight gain, efficient use of animal feed, and disease
prevention; and
WHEREAS, The most significant factor in the spread of antibiotic
resistant bacteria is overuse of antibiotics in human medicine and
animal agriculture, especially the use of low dosages administered to a
large number of animals over long periods of time; and
WHEREAS, When treating illness, antibiotics are often given to all
animals in a group whether or not they are all at risk or are all sick;
and
WHEREAS, Antibiotics provided to animals for growth promotion or
prevention of illness are usually provided in low dosages for long dura-
tion, sometimes given for the entire production cycle of raising the
animal; and
WHEREAS, While careful use of antibiotics for sick animals is impor-
tant for animal and human health, research does not demonstrate signif-
icant increases in animal growth from the non-therapeutic use of antibi-
otics; and
WHEREAS, According to the FDA, 80 percent of the antibiotics produced,
in the United States, are used in animal agriculture, for non-therapeu-
tic purposes; and
WHEREAS, Antibiotic resistance linked to food animals is rising espe-
cially for antibiotics used for growth promotion and other non-therapeu-
tic purposes; and
WHEREAS, Studies have suggested that food animals are often reservoirs
of antibiotic resistant diseases commonly affecting humans such as blood
infections and foodborne illnesses and these resistant infections may
result in more severe and longer lasting illnesses; and
WHEREAS, Animals raised in large numbers in close confinement are more
susceptible to the spread of diseases that may require treatment with
antibiotics; and
WHEREAS, Changes in animal housing and living conditions along with
improved veterinary treatment of sick animals could reduce or eliminate
the need for widespread use of antibiotics for growth promotion and
disease prevention; and
WHEREAS, Although some producers and retailers of meat products have
developed policies that take steps to curb antibiotic use, private
sector initiatives to reduce antibiotic use in animal agriculture are
rare, limited in scope and difficult to verify; and

WHEREAS, Federal intervention is needed to achieve reductions in the
unnecessary use of antibiotics in animals and subsequent development of
disease resistance; and
WHEREAS, Approval of PAMTA will help protect antibiotics used for
human health, and, encourage producers using antibiotics for non-thera-
peutic purposes to rely on alternative means to grow healthy animals;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the New York State Congressional delegation be and
hereby is respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to pass the
Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA, H.R.
965/S.1211); and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to each member of the Congressional delegation from the State of
New York.