Veterinary Feed Directives

The Animal Drug Availability Act of 1996 (ADAA) amended the Act to establish a new category of drugs, veterinary feed directive (VFD) drugs.  A drug intended for use in or on feed, which is limited by an approved application to use under the professional supervision of a licensed veterinarian is a VFD drug.  Final regulations covering the use and distribution of VFD feeds (medicated feeds containing VFD drugs) were published in the FEDERAL REGISTER on December 8, 2000.

The VFD process is straightforward in practice.  A veterinarian, operating within the confines of a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship, examines and diagnoses animal conditions and determines whether a condition warrants use of a VFD drug.  If it does, the veterinarian will issue a signed VFD containing information specified by regulation.  Extra-label use of a VFD drug is not permitted by anyone, including the veterinarian.  The veterinarian keeps a copy of the VFD and provides the completed and signed original and a copy to the client.  The client keeps the copy and gives the original VFD to the feed manufacturer.  The VFD authorizes the VFD feed to be shipped to the client’s animal feeding operation. 

Anyone intending to distribute VFD feeds must notify CVM prior to beginning distribution.  Distributor includes the VFD feed manufacturer or anyone in the distribution chain who ultimately supplies VFD feed to an animal producer.  This could include the veterinarian if he/she is the source of VFD feed.  A VFD feed may not be distributed to a client without a signed VFD.  However, VFD feed may be sent down the distribution chain if the consignee provides the distributor with a signed acknowledgment letter affirming that it will only ship the VFD feed to a VFD holder or to another distributor who supplies a similar acknowledgment letter.