* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Mosby
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Informational Hearing - Nontherapeutic Use of Antibiotics in Livestock
FOR the purpose of requesting a statewide and national ban on nontherapeutic uses of antibiotics in livestock production; supporting the enactment of the Protection of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA)/Prevention of Antibiotic Resistance Act (PARA) to address this dangerous practice; and calling for a hearing to discuss ways to reduce and eliminate the nontherapeutic uses of antibiotics in livestock production.
body
Recitals
WHEREAS, 80% of the antibiotics sold in the United States are used in livestock production, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that most of those antibiotics are used irresponsibly.
WHEREAS, low doses of antibiotics are routinely fed to livestock for disease prevention to compensate for crowded, unsanitary conditions, in a practice known as "nontherapeutic use".
WHEREAS, "nontherapeutic use" creates ideal conditions for the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
WHEREAS, antibiotic resistant bacteria on livestock operations are known to spread to retail meat, farmers and farmworkers, and rural environments.
WHEREAS, antibiotic resistance in pathogens due to nontherapeutic use of antibiotics in livestock production has been a public health concern since the 1960s.
WHEREAS, antibiotic resistant bacteria have been the cause of several foodborne illness outbreaks, including a 2011 outbreak of antibiotic resistant Salmonella in ground turkey that sickened 136 people, hospitalized 37, and killed one and lead to the third largest meat recall in the USDA's records and a 2013 outbreak of antibiotic resistant Salmonella in chicken that sickened 416 people and hospitalized 162.
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that at least two million Americans suffer from antibiotic resistant bacterial infections each year and twenty three thousand Americans die from those infections.
WHEREAS, the medical and social costs of antibiotic resistant infections in just one hospital for one year have been estimated to be between $13 million and $18 million.
WHEREAS, the federal government has limited nontherapeutic uses of two classes of antibiotics, but otherwise largely relied on voluntary guidance to attempt to reduce overuse of antibiotics in livestock production, despite regular acknowledgments that nontherapeutic use and the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria poses a significant public health threat.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, that the Council requests a statewide and national ban on nontherapeutic uses of antibiotics in livestock production; supports the enactment of the Protection of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA)/Prevention of Antibiotic Resistance Act (PARA) to address this dangerous practice; and calls for a hearing to discuss ways to reduce and eliminate the nontherapeutic use of antibiotics in livestock production.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Health Commissioner, the Maryland House and Senate Delegations to the 113th Congress, the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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