SB 1540 passed the Legislature and was signed by the Governor earlier this summer. The bill was sponsored in the House by Representative Marti Coley and others, and in the Senate by Senator Carey Baker.

The bill gained the support of the Florida Veterinary Association, the Department of Health, the Office of Drug Policy, the Statewide Prosecutor and the Attorney General. AVDA believes this will serve as a template for similar legislation in other state.

The bill creates a new license for veterinary wholesale distributors who sell human drugs to veterinarians. The criteria for this new license are:

• the wholesale company must be in veterinary wholesale business on a full time basis;

• the wholesale company can only derive 30% of income from sale of human drugs to veterinarians,

• the wholesale company can’t also sell human drugs to human pharmacies;

• the wholesale company can’t further distribute any drug returned by a vet.

If a veterinary wholesale company qualifies under these criteria, they will enjoy the following “exemptions:”

• pedigree does not have to be passed to the veterinarian or other dispenser

• liability insurance requirements for human drug wholesalers are removed

• the amount of the bond to be posted with DOH is reduced to $20,000

• the requirement for maintaining a “designated representative” in the warehouse at all times is removed as is the requirement to pass the state’s test on human drug distribution.

AVDA is working closely with the Florida Department of Health to determine whether additional rules will be necessary to implement the statute. In addition, we are working closely with the Department as they create the new licensure application.

When the application form is complete, it will be posted on the AVDA web site.

Thanks to all our AVDA members who wrote and called members of the Florida Legislature in support of our bill.