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# CVM Sees 1% Decrease in Food Animal Antimicrobial Use
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/cvm-sees-1-decrease-in-food-animal-antimicrobial-use/
- Published: 2022-12-12T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T18:09:29.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: FDA Policy/General, #legacy-id-D5153371

CVM has released its [2021 Summary Report on Antimicrobials Sold or Distributed for Use in Food-Producing Animals](https://www.fda.gov/media/163739/download?ref=fdaweb.com) that shows domestic sales and distribution of medically important antimicrobial drugs for such animals decreased by less than 1% between 2020 and 2021\. “Since the significant decrease in sales volume in 2017, annual sales of medically important antimicrobials have remained at reduced levels,” it says. “Compared to 2015 (peak year of sales), 2021 sales decreased 38%.”

The report says that tetracyclines, which represent the largest volume of these domestic sales (3,916,864 kg in 2021), decreased by 1% last year. “Penicillins decreased by 19%, macrolides and lincosamides each increased by 21%,” it says.

The significant decrease in sales volumes in 2017 was attributed to “transitioning a large number of products containing medically important antimicrobials from over-the-counter use to a marketing status requiring veterinary oversight at the beginning of 2017,” the report says. It notes that while antimicrobial sales data on products intended for food-producing animals “do not necessarily reflect the actual use of antimicrobial drugs, sales volume observed over time can be a valuable indicator of market trends related to these products.”