Symposium on medicated feeds : proceedings of the symposium on medicated feeds sponsored by U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Food and Drug Administration, Veterinary Medical Branch, Jan. 23 and 24, 1956 / edited by Henry Welch and Feĺix Martí-Ibánẽz.

  • United States. Food and Drug Administration.
Date:
1956
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Symposium on medicated feeds : proceedings of the symposium on medicated feeds sponsored by U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Food and Drug Administration, Veterinary Medical Branch, Jan. 23 and 24, 1956 / edited by Henry Welch and Feĺix Martí-Ibánẽz. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    There has long been too much confusion in the minds of some concerning the role of enforcement officials and the regulated industries. Many still regard our relationship much as a game of cops and robbers. While legal enforcement actions and supporting investigatory procedures will probably always be needed, it nevertheless is becoming increasingly apparent that meetings and joint educa- tional activities, such as this, go a long way toward providing an understanding of the problems, their solution, and a sound basis for voluntary cooperation and compliance. The latter is a major objective of the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This symposium is but one of many manifestations of the growing importance of medicated feeds. I should like, if I may, to take a minute to emphasize the national importance of medicated feeds. As all of you well know, they present numerous highly complex scientific and technical problems. There are also major economic considerations involved, not only for the manufacturers but for the farmer, the meat packer, and the consumer. Some of these have not yet been fully answered. But over and above all of these, however, looms one paramount consideration. It must govern your actions and it will govern ours. It is the basic concept of all food and drug legislation—the protection of the public. Medicated feeds cannot be viewed only in terms of their economic or medical effects on poultry, pork, and beef. We, and you, must primarily be concerned with the question of whether or not the treated meat has any discernible adverse effects on the human consumer. Our nation’s food supply is fundamental to our nation’s health and therefore its strength. These are not matters to be taken lightly. On the contrary, these are matters demanding of our best scientific skills, our best educational efforts, and our best enforcement standards. As I reviewed the program for the next two days, I was gratified to see speakers representing the manufacturers, the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, the Public Health Service, the state feed officials, the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists, and the feeders. This, in my judg- ment, bids well for a successful, fruitful meeting. On behalf of the Food and Drug Administration, I extend my compliments and my sincere hope that this symposium will contribute significantly to the health and welfare of our nation.