Prohibitions on Sale and Use
Prohibited veterinary chemical off-label uses
There are a number of off-label use prohibitions in place for veterinary chemical products.- Unless the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Chemicals Authority (APVMA) has issued a permit or a veterinary practitioner has provided written authorisation for the use, a person (i.e. non-veterinarians) must not:
- use a veterinary chemical at a rate that is higher than the maximum label rate
- use a veterinary chemical at intervals that are more frequent than the interval stated on the label.
- Unless a permit has been issued by the APVMA, a person (including a veterinary practitioner) must not use a veterinary chemical product in a way that is specifically prohibited on the label. For example, if a product has a restraint, ‘DO NOT use in food producing animals’ on the label, the product cannot be used on such an animal.
- No one is permitted to formulate, dispense or use as an injection a veterinary chemical that is registered for oral or topical use only.
Products that cannot be used off-label without a permit
The following products cannot be used off-label by any person (other than as indicated below) unless a permit has been issued by the DPI or APVMA:
- streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin
- products containing clenbuterol and related beta-agonists
- products that are anabolic or androgenic steroids, or hormones, including boldenone ethyloestrenol, megestrol, methandriol, nandrolone, oestradiol, progesterone, stanozolol, testosterone, trenbolone or zeranol and their derivatives other than:
- progesterone and testosterone and their derivatives, when used in conjunction with the artificial insemination of sheep and the use occurs under written instructions of a registered veterinary surgeon.
Use of unregistered veterinary chemical products
A person must not use an unregistered chemical product unless:
- the APVMA has issued a permit authorising the use of the unregistered chemical product
- the chemical product is used no later than two years after its registration ends, and the chemical product was in the user’s possession immediately before its registration ended
- the use is by, or in accordance with the instructions provided by a veterinary practitioner acting in the course of his or her profession, and it complies with the legislative requirements for using unregistered products. I.E. the quantity of unregistered product provided is sufficient to treat only a single food producing animal and an appropriate withholding period is provided.
Prohibited use of agricultural chemicals on animals
A person must not administer or apply a registered agricultural chemical product to an animal unless:
- the use is by, or in accordance with the written instructions of a veterinary practitioner acting in the course of his or her profession, and the quantity of the agricultural product is sufficient to treat only a single food producing animal and an appropriate withholding period is provided; and the product does not contain a prohibited constituent by an Order by the Governor in Council under section 25 or 25A of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemical (Control of Use) Act 1992.
Prohibitions on the sale and use of certain veterinary chemical products
A person must not sell or use any of the following veterinary chemical products if they contain a prohibited constituent listed below.
| Veterinary Chemical Products | Prohibited Constituent |
|---|---|
|
Any veterinary chemical to be administered to stock |
Carbadox
|
|
Any veterinary chemical product to be administered to stock or horses |
Chloramphenicol |
|
Any veterinary chemical product to be applied topically to stock |
Arsenical compounds |
