From: Kathy McCann [mac@ticon.net]
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2001 12:49 AM
To: EXECSEC
Subject: Antibiotics

                                                                                Kathy McCann        
                                                                                 1035 Agnew Drive
                                                                                 Milton, WI. 53563

January 8, 2001


Jane E. Henney, M.D.
Commissioner
U. S. Food and Drug Administration


Dear Commissioner Henney:

Because of the overuse of antibiotics in agriculture, there has been an emergence of untreatable diseases in humans.  It is imperative that reliable data on antibiotic use in agriculture be collected so there can be an effective national strategy to reduce antibiotic use. It falls to the Food and Drug Administration to establish a reporting system to determine the quantity of antibiotics being used in agriculture in this country. The information collected should include the class, indication, dosage and treatment period for use in humans as well as in agriculture.
There is agreement among public health experts that misuse of antibiotics by humans and overuse of antibiotics
in agriculture are both impacting human health. The FDA recognizes the need for collecting this information, yet
has done nothing.
I urge you, and the next administration's officials at the FDA to make creation of a federal antibiotic reporting system a top priority.
Thank-you for considering this issue.
Please reply to my concerns via email: mac@ticon.net

Sincerely,
Kathy McCann