Thomas Manton: “Mr. Speaker, the Animal Drug Availability Act makes important changes to the process by which the Food and Drug…”

“Mr. Speaker, the Animal Drug Availability Act makes important changes to the process by which the Food and Drug Administration reviews applications for new animal drugs. We have heard a great deal in this Congress about reforming Government and streamlining regulation. This legislation demonstrates that these goals can be accomplished if all of the interested parties are willing to negotiate. This amendment to H.R. 2508 is the result of compromise between the FDA and the animal drug coalition. It is bipartisan, and it achieves reforms responsibly and carefully. We are pleased that this legislation incorporates FDA proposals included in the Vice President's reinventing Government initiatives, one that will reduce unnecessary requirements and paperwork associated with feed mill licensing and another that will authorize FDA to establish import tolerances for animal drugs not approved for use in the United States. The provisions of this bill complete a task begun with enactment in 1994 of the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act. When the House passed that important legislation, we knew that expanding drug availability would require addressing the underlying issue that there are not enough new animal drugs available for veterinarians to treat all the diseases and conditions that affect animals.”