Title 3. Regulation of Livestock and Poultry — Subtitle 10. Use of Antimicrobial Drugs
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Agric. § 3-1001 (2026)
Title 3. Regulation of Livestock and Poultry
Subtitle 10. Use of Antimicrobial Drugs
§ 3–1001LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)
“Administered in a regular pattern” means used:
(1)
For multiple courses of therapy in the same animal or group of animals; or
(2)
As standard operating procedure, including:
(i)
In correspondence with a particular life stage of an animal, such as in ovo, at birth or hatch, or at weaning;
(ii)
As an ongoing management strategy or tool, such as in correspondence with a particular:
(1)
Age or weight of an animal;
(2)
Time of the week, month, or year; or
(3)
Season; or
(iii)
When moving animals from one location to another.
(c)
“Control the spread of disease or infection” means to contain the transmission of a documented disease or infection present in:
(1)
A group of animals in contact with each other; or
(2)
A barn or equivalent animal housing unit.
(d)
“Documented” means acknowledged and recorded.
(e)
(1)
“Elevated risk” means a risk that is significantly higher than that present under normal or standard operating conditions.
(2)
“Elevated risk” does not include a risk typically or frequently present under normal or standard operating conditions.
(f)
“Medically important antimicrobial drug” means any drug from a class of drug or derivative of a class of drug that is:
(1)
(i)
Made from a mold or bacterium that kills or slows the growth of other microbes, specifically bacteria; and
(ii)
Used in human beings or intended for use in human beings to treat or prevent disease or infection; or
(2)
Listed in:
(i)
Appendix A of the federal Food and Drug Administration’s Guidance for Industry #152, including critically important, highly important, or important antimicrobial drugs; or
(ii)
A subsequent guidance document created by the federal Food and Drug Administration that ranks the medical importance of antimicrobial drugs.
(g)
“Medically important antimicrobial drug prescription” means an order issued by a veterinarian licensed in the State in the course of the veterinarian’s professional practice:
(1)
For a medically important antimicrobial drug that is:
(i)
In a water–soluble powder form; and
(ii)
To be added to the drinking water of cattle, swine, or poultry; and
(2)
That provides the same or substantially similar information as the information that is required for a veterinary feed directive under Title 21, § 558.6(b)(3) and (4) of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(h)
“Owner” means a person that:
(1)
Has an ownership interest in cattle, swine, or poultry, including a right or an option to purchase the cattle, swine, or poultry; or
(2)
Is otherwise engaged in the business of obtaining live cattle, swine, or poultry under a growing agreement for the purpose of either slaughtering the cattle, swine, or poultry or selling the cattle, swine, or poultry for slaughter.
(i)
“Prophylaxis” means the prevention of disease or infection in the absence of documented clinical signs of disease or infection.
(j)
“Treat a disease or infection” means to resolve clinical signs of infection or disease in an infected animal.
(k)
“Veterinary feed directive” means a written statement issued by a veterinarian licensed in the State in the course of the veterinarian’s professional practice that:
(1)
Orders the use of an animal drug in or on animal feed;
(2)
Authorizes an owner or a caretaker of an animal to obtain and use animal feed bearing or containing an animal drug to treat the animal; and
(3)
Meets the conditions and requirements specified under Title 21, § 558.6 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Md. Code Ann., Agric. § 3-1002 (2026)
Title 3. Regulation of Livestock and Poultry
Subtitle 10. Use of Antimicrobial Drugs
§ 3–1002LinkCopy Citation
Except as otherwise provided in federal law or regulation, this subtitle does not apply to antimicrobial use in:
(1)
Cattle on a farm operation that sells fewer than 200 cattle per year;
(2)
Dairy cattle on a farm operation with a herd size of fewer than 300 dairy cattle;
(3)
Swine on a farm operation that sells fewer than 200 swine per year; or
(4)
Poultry on a farm operation that sells fewer than 60,000 birds per year.
Md. Code Ann., Agric. § 3-1003 (2026)
Title 3. Regulation of Livestock and Poultry
Subtitle 10. Use of Antimicrobial Drugs
§ 3–1003LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A medically important antimicrobial drug may not be administered in feed or water to cattle, swine, or poultry unless ordered by a licensed veterinarian through:
(1)
A medically important antimicrobial drug prescription; or
(2)
A veterinary feed directive.
(b)
(1)
On or after January 1, 2018, and subject to subsection (c) of this section, a medically important antimicrobial drug may be administered to cattle, swine, or poultry if, in the professional judgment of a licensed veterinarian, the medically important antimicrobial drug is necessary:
(i)
To treat a disease or infection;
(ii)
To control the spread of a disease or infection; or
(iii)
For a surgery or medical procedure.
(2)
(i)
On or after January 1, 2018, a medically important antimicrobial drug may be administered to cattle, swine, or poultry if, in the professional judgment of a licensed veterinarian, the medically important antimicrobial drug is necessary for prophylaxis to address an elevated risk of contraction of a particular disease or infection.
(ii)
Notwithstanding subsection (e) of this section, administration of a medically important antimicrobial drug for the purpose of prophylaxis may not exceed 21 days unless federal label directions require a longer period of use.
(c)
Unless administration of a medically important antimicrobial drug is consistent with subsection (b)(1) of this section, a medically important antimicrobial drug may not be administered in a regular pattern to cattle, swine, or poultry.
(d)
A medically important antimicrobial drug may not be administered to cattle, swine, or poultry solely for the purpose of:
(1)
Promoting weight gain; or
(2)
Improving feed efficiency.
(e)
(1)
Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, a medically important antimicrobial drug may not be administered to cattle, swine, or poultry for a period longer than 21 days.
(2)
A medically important antimicrobial drug may be administered to cattle, swine, or poultry for a period longer than 21 days if the federal label directions for the drug require a longer period of use.
(3)
(i)
A licensed veterinarian may extend administration of a medically important antimicrobial drug for not more than 21 days if, after conducting an on–site visit, the veterinarian determines that the extension is necessary to treat or control the spread of disease or infection.
(ii)
A licensed veterinarian may grant additional extensions of not more than 21 days, provided that the veterinarian conducts an on–site visit before each extension.
(f)
On or before January 1, 2021, the Department shall adopt regulations prohibiting the routine administration of a medically important antimicrobial drug to dairy cattle entering a dry cycle except when necessary based on an assessment of the presence of an intramammary infection.
Md. Code Ann., Agric. § 3-1004 (2026)
Title 3. Regulation of Livestock and Poultry
Subtitle 10. Use of Antimicrobial Drugs
§ 3–1004LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Each year the Department shall collect publicly available data on the use in the State of medically important antimicrobial drugs in cattle, swine, and poultry from:
(1)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture;
(2)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
(3)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and
(4)
Appropriate national and State trade associations, organizations, and councils.
(b)
On or before February 1 each year, a licensed veterinarian shall submit to the Department, in a manner determined by the Department:
(1)
A copy of the record prescribing the medically important antimicrobial drug or a copy of the veterinary feed directive for each medically important antimicrobial drug, as listed in Appendix A of the federal Food and Drug Administration’s Guidance for Industry #152, administered in feed or water to cattle, swine, or poultry during the previous calendar year; and
(2)
An accounting, as provided by the owner, of the total number of animals raised during the previous calendar year, categorized by species and production class.
(c)
(1)
On or before July 1 each year, the Department shall report to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on the data collected under subsections (a) and (b) of this section.
(2)
The report shall include the following information for the previous calendar year:
(i)
The total number of animals raised on farm operations covered by this subtitle, categorized by species and production class;
(ii)
The specific antimicrobial active ingredients and classes of antimicrobial active ingredients used;
(iii)
The total weight of antimicrobial active ingredients used;
(iv)
Indications for which veterinarians prescribed medically important antimicrobial drugs; and
(v)
Patterns of use for medically important antimicrobial drugs, including duration and seasonal variation.
(3)
(i)
Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the information required under paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be disaggregated by county.
(ii)
If there are two or fewer reporting farm operations in a particular county for any of the categories described in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Department may report the information for that category on a regional or statewide basis.
(d)
The Department shall maintain all records and information relating to the administration of medically important antimicrobial drugs submitted to the Department under this section:
(1)
In a manner that protects the identity of the owner, operator, and veterinarian for whom the information was submitted; and
(2)
For at least 5 years.
Md. Code Ann., Agric. § 3-1005 (2026)
Title 3. Regulation of Livestock and Poultry
Subtitle 10. Use of Antimicrobial Drugs
§ 3–1005LinkCopy Citation
The Secretary may impose an administrative penalty, not exceeding $2,000 per violation, on a person that violates this subtitle.
Md. Code Ann., Agric. § 3-1006 (2026)
Title 3. Regulation of Livestock and Poultry
Subtitle 10. Use of Antimicrobial Drugs
§ 3–1006LinkCopy Citation
The Department may adopt regulations to carry out this subtitle.