In response to an increasing number of enquiries, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has published https://apvma.gov.au/node/116471 to provide guidance to stakeholders on the regulation of cannabis in veterinary chemical products.

The enquiries received by the APVMA come from a broad range of stakeholders, including pet owners seeking advice on whether they can give medicinal cannabis to their pets; veterinarians seeking guidance on whether they are allowed to prescribe unregistered veterinary products containing cannabis; and registrants seeking clarification on which products require registration.

The information published on our website aims to address these common queries, by making clear the APVMA’s position on cannabis in veterinary chemical products and the different requirements our stakeholders must be aware of and comply with.

It is the APVMA’s position that veterinary products containing cannabis, hemp or cannabinoids meet the definition of a veterinary chemical product under section 5 of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code (Agvet Code) scheduled to the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994, and therefore would require registration.

As of 8 August 2023, the APVMA has not registered any veterinary chemical products containing cannabis.

The APVMA will continue to provide stakeholders with up-to-date information on cannabis in veterinary chemical products, including its registration status, on our website as it becomes available.

I would appreciate if you could please share this email with your members to ensure they are made aware of this important resource.

Any enquiries about the information on our website or cannabis in veterinary products may be directed to the APVMA Enquiries Team.