The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply in Brazil announced a ban on the use of antimicrobials spiramycin and erythromycin as growth promoters in livestock feed in its Instrução Normativa No. 14 published in the Diário Oficial da União — Brazil’s equivalent to the U.S. Federal Register.
The Working Group of the Department of Livestock Supplies Inspection in Brazil has been studying these and other feed additives since 2003. The group recommended discontinuing the use of spiramycin and erythromycin as growth-promoting antimicrobials because of public health concerns.
The current use of spiramycin and erythromycin in livestock feed should be discontinued by June 16, 2012.
