Animal health drug bills go to President Bush

Friday, August 1, 2008, 3:38 PM

by Peter Shinn

Brownfield

The House and Senate this week both passed two identical measures aimed at making it easier to get animal health drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) allows the FDA to collect user fees from companies that develop animal health drugs to help fund the often lengthy approval process. The Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act (AGDUFA) will put the same process in place for approving generic versions of animal health drugs. Both bills now go to President Bush, who is expected to sign them into law.

ADUFA is actually a reauthorization of a similar measure passed in 2003. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) in a statement noted a variety of new swine treatments had come onto the market since ADUFA originally took effect. And NPPC Brian Black praised Congress for taking action on ADUFA and AGDUFA.

"Congress’ action will help ensure that pork producers have access to products that keep our pigs healthy and our products safe and wholesome," Black said.

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