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# Petition Urges FDA to Restrict Antibiotic Use in Animals
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/petition-urges-fda-to-restrict-antibiotic-use-in-animals/
- Published: 2026-06-17T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T13:41:19.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: FDA Policy/General, #legacy-id-D5161327

A coalition of 65 health, environmental, consumer, farming, and animal welfare organizations has filed a citizen petition urging FDA to withdraw approvals for the routine use of medically important antibiotics for disease prevention in food-producing animals. The [petition](https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/65-organizations-urge-fda-to-end-routine-antibiotic-use-in-livestock-operations?ref=fdaweb.com) argues that widespread antibiotic use in livestock contributes to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, which the groups say is responsible for approximately 2.8 million illnesses and 35,000 deaths annually in the U.S.

Led by Earthjustice and supported by organizations including Consumer Reports, Sierra Club, Health Care Without Harm, and Food Animal Concerns Trust, the coalition asks FDA to end approvals for disease-prevention uses of medically important antibiotics and limit long-duration administration of the drugs in livestock operations. The groups contend that more than 70% of antibiotics sold in the U.S. are used in animal agriculture, where the drugs are often administered through feed or water to prevent disease in large livestock populations rather than to treat diagnosed infections.

In addition to restricting antibiotic use, the petition calls on FDA to require more detailed collection of antibiotic usage data by animal species and production sector and to establish reduction targets aimed at curbing antimicrobial resistance.

Supporters of the petition argue that many livestock producers have demonstrated that animals can be raised successfully with substantially lower antibiotic use, citing reductions achieved in portions of the poultry industry and by producers operating under antibiotic-free or low-antibiotic production systems.