(a) Beginning January 1, 2018, a medically important antimicrobial drug may be used when, in the professional judgment of a licensed veterinarian, the medically important antimicrobial drug is any of the following:

(1) Necessary to treat a disease or infection.

Terms Used In California Food and Agricultural Code 14402

(2) Necessary to control the spread of a disease or infection.

(3) Necessary in relation to surgery or a medical procedure.

(b) A medically important antimicrobial drug may also be used when, in the professional judgment of a licensed veterinarian, it is needed for prophylaxis to address an elevated risk of contraction of a particular disease or infection.

(c) A person shall not administer a medically important antimicrobial drug to livestock solely for purposes of promoting weight gain or improving feed efficiency.

(d) Unless the administration is consistent with subdivision (a), a person shall not administer a medically important antimicrobial drug in a regular pattern.

(Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 758, Sec. 1. (SB 27) Effective January 1, 2016.)