July 2005                        return to newsletter contents page

Update on Florida Pedigree Law

AVDA members spent this past legislative session working with the Florida Attorney General, Statewide Prosecutor, Director of the Governor’s Office of Drug Policy, the Secretary of the Department of Health and key legislative leaders toward the creation of a new veterinary drug wholesaler license for Florida veterinary wholesalers.

Late in the session, agreement was reached on legislation creating the new veterinary wholesaler license for AVDA members with warehouses in Florida.

When enacted, the new license will make several significant changes in the current Florida pedigree law. The most significant of these changes is that Florida veterinary wholesaler selling human drugs to veterinarians will not be required to pass the drug’s pedigree to the veterinarian.

Other license provisions include a reduced bond, exemption from the requirement for having a designated representative at the facility, and an exemption from the mandate to pass the Florida test on prescription drug rules.

Language enacting these provisions, SB 1654, was passed through all Senate committees and was on the Senate Calendar for Senate consideration at the end of the Legislative session. Because of parliamentary rules in the Florida House of Representatives, the bill died in the House.

AVDA members will continue to pursue this legislation during the fall and have it ready for consideration by both the House and Senate during the early portion of the Florida 2006 legislative session.