From: canswers@bluegrass.net
Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2001 10:04 AM
To: EXECSEC
Subject: Monitoring Agricultural over-use of Antibiotics

Craig Butler 
4645 Cliff Ave. 
Louisville, KY  40215 
____________ 



Jane E. Henney, M.D.  
Commissioner  
U. S. Food and Drug Administration  
5600 Fishers Lane  
Rockville MD 20857-0001  



Dear Ms. Henney, 

The overuse of antibiotics in agriculture is contributing to the emergence of untreatable 
diseases in people.  While the misuse of antibiotics in human medicine is the larger contributor 
to the problem, there is agreement among public health experts that the overuse of antibiotics 
in agriculture is also impacting human health by contributing to the rise in drug-resistant 
microorganisms.  Reliable data on antibiotic use in agriculture is needed for an effective 
national strategy to reduce antibiotic use are unavailable.  This is data that are necessary for 
scientists to explore the links between antibiotic use and the development of drug resistance 
and for developing rational strategies to curb use.  Therefore, I am urging you and the FDA 
to collect and report data on the quantity of antibiotics used in U.S. agriculture. This is an 
important national health issue, with global ramifications as well. 


     Sincerely, 
      Craig Butler