Earlier today, the AVMA testified before the U.S. Congress – talking about advances to animal health in the livestock industry and explaining how food safety and animal and human health are intertwined. The hearing went well, and as promised, you’ll find the link to the testimony below.

Speaking for the AVMA was Dr. Christine Hoang, assistant director of the AVMA’s Scientific Activities Division. Dr. Hoang addressed the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry, which is part of the Committee on Agriculture.

One highlight from Dr. Hoang’s oral testimony:

“Our profession has made many advances in animal health and food safety – in areas such as the development and implementation of animal disease control programs and biotechnology. Other successes through collaborative efforts include a decline in foodborne illness from meat and poultry products as well as a decline in the prevalence of foodborne pathogens, including Salmonella, associated with meat and poultry and resistance of those organisms."

The hearing also covered the use of antibiotics by veterinarians to treat food animals. As you may recall, the AVMA testified in June before a U.S. Senate committee about this subject. You can read the testimony from the June hearing here.

One more thing from today’s hearing: Dr. Hoang again reiterated the importance to food safety of having systems that monitor the use of drugs in livestock – and reminded the subcommittee how desperately these systems need additional funding. This – especially the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD)’s dire need for funding – shouldn’t come as news to regular readers of this blog. We’ve been telling you for months that FARAD is a critical food safety program at risk.

Read the complete written testimony from today’s hearing here.