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Ohio is rich in natural resources. Popular state parks, fertile farmland, pockets of remnant prairie, wildlife rich marshes, rolling Appalachian foothills revered for their fall color and spring wildflowers.

These resources form the basis of our food, jobs, culture and recreational opportunities that are critical to the quality of human life. But left unchecked, extractive activities including large-scale mining, drilling, landfills, logging, and factory farm operations can pose threats to Ohio’s landscape and natural resources. No other environmental organization has the experience and expertise of working with legislators and the media on complex issues that affect Ohio’s landscape as does the OEC. Over 100 local groups across the state look to the OEC to be their eyes and ears in Columbus. They look to OEC not to protect these special landscapes from people; rather we work to conserve them for people. We amplify their voice for conserving the landscape that makes Ohio great.




OEC applauds FDA ban on use of antibiotic in poultry production

The OEC celebrated a huge win after a nearly five-year battle to ban the use of fluoroquinolone, a powerful and medically-important antibiotic, in poultry production.

For decades, factory farms routinely have administered fluoroquinolones via water to entire flocks of poultry when just a few birds showed signs of illness. Research confirmed that this practice accelerated the development of potentially-deadly, antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

After unsuccessful legal appeals by drug maker Bayer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ban on the use of fluoroquinolones in poultry took effect September 12, 2005.

The OEC and our partners at Keep Antibiotics Working continue to work on this critical human health issue. Next step: support the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act. Sponsored by Ohio Congressman Sherrod Brown, the bill would phase-out seven medically important antibiotics as livestock feed additives, thus protecting the arsenal of medications for human medicine.



The Healthy School Lunch Act

The Healthy School Lunch Act, Ohio Senate Bill 73, would help protect an especially important class of antibiotics: fluoroquinolones, the class that includes the human-use drug Cipro. In 2000, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed to ban use of fluoroquinolones in poultry, based on evidence that such use diminishes the effectiveness of Cipro in treating human illness. Unfortunately, FDA's procedures for getting unsafe agricultural drugs off the market are so cumbersome that the regulatory proceedings are still dragging on nearly five years later. Meanwhile, Cipro resistance continues to climb. The Healthy School Lunch Act would ban Ohio's school lunch programs from purchasing poultry treated with fluoroquinolones, helping to preserve the effectiveness of Cipro for years to come. Read More.


 







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