Regulation of veterinary chemical products containing cannabis
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is the independent statutory authority responsible for assessing and registering agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals proposed for supply in Australia.
The APVMA regulates all veterinary products that 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 unless specified as exempt in the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Regulations 1995.
The APVMA considers that veterinary products containing cannabis (including hemp) or cannabinoids are veterinary chemical products (veterinary medicines).
As of 4 August 2023, the APVMA has not registered any veterinary chemical products containing cannabis.
For the APVMA to register a veterinary chemical product containing cannabis, we must receive an application for registration or approval of use under permit. We then assess the application against the statutory criteria – including safety, efficacy and trade – to ensure the proposed use of the product will be safe and effective.
If a product has not been registered by the APVMA or approved for use under permit, it may not be safe to use in animals.
A product registered by the APVMA will have an ‘APVMA’ or ‘NRA’ approval number on the label, which means it can be supplied, sold and used safely according to label directions. If a product does not have an ‘APVMA’ or ‘NRA’ approval number on the label, it is not registered for use in Australia and could be dangerous.
Products registered by the APVMA can also be searched on our PubCRIS database. Products approved for use under permit can be found on our Permits database.
The Agvet Code imposes civil and criminal penalties for possessing, advertising and supplying unregistered veterinary chemical products. We encourage Australian pet owners, veterinarians and product suppliers to report unregistered veterinary products containing cannabis to the APVMA by submitting a suspected non-compliance report.
FAQs
We have published some frequently asked questions (FAQs) relating to veterinary chemical products containing cannabis*. The responses provided are for general information only and may be updated at any time.
If you have a question about veterinary chemical products containing cannabis that is not addressed on this page, please contact our Enquiries Team.
*Includes extracts of cannabis.
Has the APVMA registered any veterinary products containing cannabis?
No – as of 4 August 2023, the APVMA has not registered any veterinary chemical products containing cannabis.
For the APVMA to authorise a veterinary product containing cannabis, we must first receive an application for registration or approval of use under permit.
We are aware of some cannabis products that are marketed in Australia as animal health products, feed additives or pet food; however, these products have not been registered by the APVMA and safe levels/concentration limits for cannabis have not been determined for animals.
When will the APVMA approve veterinary products containing cannabis?
In order for the APVMA to authorise a veterinary product containing cannabis, we must first receive an application for registration or approval of use under permit. We will then assess the application against the statutory criteria –including safety, efficacy and trade – to ensure the proposed use of the product will be safe and effective. We also approve the label, which provides the instructions for safe and effective use.
Are cannabis products safe to use for animals?
If a product has not been registered by the APVMA, or approved for use under permit, it may not be safe to use in animals.
You should always consult your veterinarian about the health of your animals. Veterinarians may be able to prescribe an unregistered cannabis product for therapeutic animal use only, so you should discuss what treatment options might be available with your veterinarian.
Does the APVMA need to approve the use of cannabis in pet food?
Yes – the use of cannabis as an animal feed additive in pet food requires registration by the APVMA because it is not recognised as a feed ingredient and does not meet the criteria of an excluded nutritional or digestive (END) product.
What about veterinary products containing hemp – do they need to be approved by the APVMA too?
Yes – hemp and cannabis are both terms used to describe a plant in the genus Cannabis, so any products containing hemp (including hemp seed oil and hemp oil) that meet the definition of a veterinary chemical product would require registration by the APVMA.
Can veterinarians prescribe unregistered cannabis products?
Yes – under the prescribing rights in their jurisdictions, veterinarians are allowed to prescribe unregistered veterinary products containing cannabis products for therapeutic use in animals only; however, the product must comply with certain provisions of the Poisons Standard and be manufactured outside of Australia.
What unregistered cannabis products are veterinarians allowed to prescribe?
Although veterinarians are allowed to prescribe unregistered cannabis products for therapeutic use in animals, the product must comply with the entry for ‘cannabidiol’ (CBD) in Schedule 4 of the Poisons Standard.
CBD products containing 98% or more CBD and less than 2% of other cannabinoids (such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)) are included in Schedule 4 of the Poisons Standard. Schedule 4 medicines are only sold (dispensed) on prescription and include prescription-only medicines (registered for use in humans only) and prescription animal medicines (that would be registered through the APVMA).
In addition to complying with the provisions of Schedule 4 of the Poisons Standard, veterinarians can only prescribe products for therapeutic use in animals that have been manufactured outside of Australia. This is because the law dictates that cannabis-derived products manufactured in Australia are only approved for prescription to people, not animals.
Only veterinarians can prescribe unregistered cannabis products for animals, but the products must comply with the provisions of the Poisons Standard and be manufactured outside of Australia – this is the law.
Currently, a veterinarian could import a cannabis product from overseas, but they must be granted a consent to import from the APVMA to import the product and follow any state or territory legislation surrounding control of use and prescribing rights for the product.
Importing requirements from other government regulators (e.g. Australian Border Force or the Office of Drug Control) must also be adhered to.
Veterinarians should consult their state or territory regulatory body or Veterinary Practitioner Board with any questions about these prescribing rights and obligations.
Can veterinarians promote or sell veterinary cannabis products?
No – it is an offence under the Agvet Code to advertise for sale an unregistered chemical product.
Veterinarians are allowed to prescribe unregistered veterinary products containing cannabis for therapeutic use in animals only – provided they comply with the provisions of Schedule 4 of the Poisons Standard and are manufactured outside of Australia.
Can veterinarians prescribe compounded cannabis products?
Yes – however, the only cannabis products that can be legally prescribed by veterinarians for therapeutic use in animals only are those that comply with the entry for CBD in Schedule 4 of the Poisons Standard.
Pharmacists and veterinarians should contact their state or territory regulator for further guidance on compounded products.
Can veterinarians sell or supply products in their clinics that are made locally by small-scale licensed cannabis producers?
No – this is illegal under the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967.
What are the penalties for possessing, advertising and supplying unregistered veterinary chemical products?
The Agvet Code imposes civil and criminal penalties for possessing, advertising and supplying unregistered veterinary chemical products.
The supply and sale of CBD products in Australia is illegal without veterinary prescription. The supply and sale of other veterinary cannabis products not exempted from registration is illegal. Any products that are produced, supplied or sold in Australia for therapeutic use in animals are in contravention of the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 and agvet legislation. The relevant penalties will apply for breaching the legislation.
Further state and territory regulations surrounding the control of use and prescribing rights of veterinarians must be adhered to. Failure to do so will also involve penalties associated with the relevant legislation. Please refer to the relevant state and territory authorities for these legislative requirements.
How do I report the possession, advertising or supply of unregistered veterinary chemical products?
You can report the possession, advertising and supply of unregistered veterinary products to the APVMA by visiting our website and completing a non-compliance reporting form.