Importantly….
1) Establishment of a bona fide vet-client relationship is by physically examining the animal or herd prior to dispensing, and commencing the appropriate clinical records and expectations of after-care. Veterinarians should be familiar with the current management and health status of the client’s animals prior to dispensing restricted drugs.

2) In all cases the veterinarian supplying the drugs is required to establish the therapeutic need for the supply of the restricted drugs. This means inclusion of clinical justification and documentation for the medications. Issues such as withholding periods, residues and advice notices with appropriate labelling must be addressed on every occasion. When using restricted medications, the veterinarian is expected to have some knowledge about the client, their ability and husbandry practices.

3) The veterinarian should have seen the animal/herd for the purpose of diagnosis and have established a medication requirement prior to dispensing a drug or have visited the farm/premises where the animal/herd is kept sufficiently often and recently to allow the practitioner to make a diagnosis based on the current health status. The usual complete records would be made to show diagnosis, therapeutic requirements, instructions to clients and expected results.

4) The quantity of restricted drugs must be appropriate for the circumstances.

5) As a registered veterinarian it is a requirement to be familiar with all the legislation concerning the supply and use of drugs and veterinary chemicals.

See VSB Website for links to:

- Veterinary Surgeons Act 1986 (Regulations 1995);
- Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 (Regulations 2002);
- Stock Medicines Act 1986 (Regulations 1995) and;
- the very useful Department of Health “Guide to Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Legislation for Veterinary Surgeons”.

Veterinarians should also seek information on the Pesticides Act which can be viewed at
http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au - ‘Pesticides Act 1999 No. 80’.