Guide to Using Drugs

The Guide to Using Drugs, Biologics, and Other Chemicals in Aquaculture (Guide) describes regulated products (i.e., drugs, biologics, disinfectants, and pesticides) that are approved for use in U.S. aquaculture. The Guide also describes drugs that are not yet approved for use in the U. S. but that can be used under an Investigational New Animal Drug (INAD) exemption and drugs that are considered to be of low regulatory priority (LRP) enforcement. The Guide was developed by the Working Group on Aquaculture Drugs, Chemicals, and Biologics established by the Fish Culture Section of the American Fisheries Society. The Working Group was created to facilitate communication and cooperation between public and private aquaculture interests, academic and agency researchers, and regulators to address needs and issues associated with the approval and use of aquatic animal drugs, biologics, and other regulated products in aquaculture. In this role, the Working Group created the Guide as an update and extension of the Guide to Drug, Vaccine, and Pesticide use in Aquaculture, originally developed by the Federal Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture Working Group on Quality Assurance in Aquaculture Production in cooperation with various other agency and industry partners. The current Guide continues in the spirit of the previous document, serving as a comprehensive introduction to the use of regulated products in aquaculture and a resource for fish culturists.

This Guide is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not meant as a prescriptive tool nor does it replace the advice of professional fish health biologists or licensed veterinarians. While every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of the information and calculations included in the Guide, the user is ultimately responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the calculations, administrations and legal use of applied products. Before using any drug or chemical that may be discharged into U.S. waters, contact your local National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) authority. Before using a drug authorized for use only under INAD exemption, make sure that you are a participant in the INAD program that is authorized to allow use of that drug. We provide no warranty nor guarantee for any calculations provided in the companion Treatment Calculator and all calculations should be verified by the user before use. Mention or display of a trademark, propriety product, or firm in this Guide does not constitute endorsement by the American Fisheries Society, the Fish Culture Section, or the Working Group.

All information contained in the Guide is accurate as of the revision date indicated on the upper left of the cover page. However, allowed uses of regulated products in aquaculture are dynamic and subject to change between revisions.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF INDIVIDUALS ADMINISTERING REGULATED PRODUCTS TO READ AND FOLLOW LABEL INSTRUCTIONS, AND BE AWARE OF ANY CHANGES IN RELEVANT REGULATION PRIOR TO USING THESE PRODUCTS.