Appeals Court Overturns Mandate Requiring FDA Action On Animal Antibiotics

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Thursday (July 24) said any decision to institute or terminate a hearing process that could lead to withdrawing the approval of animal antibiotics should be left up to FDA. The decision -- which addresses an FDA regulatory process that started in 1977 but wasn't finished -- overturns a district court ruling that compelled the agency to complete withdrawal hearings on classes of animal antibiotics. The ruling was immediately blasted by animal...