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Veterinary authorisation needed for restricted veterinary medicines

March 2008

A veterinary authorisation is a written instruction from a veterinarian authorising:

• The holding of restricted veterinary medicines

• The sale of restricted veterinary medicines to a person specified in the authorisation

• The use of a restricted veterinary medicine by a person specified in the authorisation.

Types of veterinary authorisation vary

The most common form of veterinary authorisation is instructions to clients when a veterinarian supplies a restricted veterinary medicine directly to them. The authorisations are recorded in the case histories.

Another form of veterinary authorisation is a veterinary prescription, which is a written instruction used to authorise the sale to and use by non-veterinarians of restricted veterinary medicines requiring veterinary authorisation. In this case some other recognised trader actually fills the prescription.

A veterinary authorisation can also take other forms that reflect common record keeping practices in intensive livestock farming systems.

Form of veterinary authorisation is flexible

The ACVM group does not dictate the form a veterinary authorisation must take as long as it is:

• Documented and traceable

• Issued by a veterinarian holding a current practising certificate and acting in accordance with any limitations on the scope of his/her competency, and

• Detailed enough to identify the product(s), the directions for use and the authorising veterinarian.

VCNZ sets professional conduct standards

The ACVM Group does not judge the appropriateness of a veterinarian’s decision to issue a veterinary authorisation. The Group presumes a veterinarian is competent if he/she holds a current practising certificate. It looks to the Veterinary Council of New Zealand (VCNZ) to set professional conduct standards. If questionable authorising practises come to the Group’s attention they will be discussed with VCNZ and appropriate action taken either individually or jointly.

If you have questions or comments, use the ‘contact this person’ option at the bottom of the VetQuickSearch home page to email us.