Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act of 1994
Public Law 103-396 · S. 340 · 103rd Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Oct 22, 1994 · Health
Sponsor: Sen. Howell Heflin (D-AL)
Cosponsors (70): Sen. Larry Pressler, Sen. Richard Shelby,
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act of 1994 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow, on order of a veterinarian: (1) a new animal drug approved for one use to be used for a different purpose other than a use in or on animal feed; and (2) a new drug approved for human use to be used in animals.
Specifies that regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services may prohibit particular uses of an animal drug and shall not permit such different use if the labeling of another animal drug that contains the same active ingredient and that is in the same dosage form and concentration provides for such different use.
Permits the Secretary, upon finding that there is a reasonable probability that a use of an animal drug authorized may present a risk to the public health, to establish a safe level for residue of an animal drug for such different authorized use and require the development of a practical, analytical method for the detection of residues of such drug above the safe level established. Directs that the use of an animal drug that results in residues exceeding a safe level so established be considered an unsafe use of such drug. Allows safe levels to be established either by regulation or order.
Authorizes the Secretary by general regulation to provide access to the records of veterinarians to ascertain any use or intended use authorized that the Secretary has determined may present a risk to the public health. Specifies that if the Secretary finds, after affording an opportunity for public comment, that a use of an animal drug so authorized presents such a risk or that an analytical method required has not been developed and submitted, the Secretary may by order prohibit any such use.
Exempts State and local governments from Federal requirements that preempt their authority with respect to nutrition labeling for maple syrup.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 11 actions.
- Oct 22, 1994Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 103-396.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 17, 1994PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 7, 1994FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On passage Passed without objection.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Waxman asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
- FloorFloor · Considered by unanimous consent.
- Oct 4, 1994FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Feb 4, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.