Veterinary clinics opposed the initiative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to tighten control over the turnover of drugs with tiletamine. Their position was supported by statements made by the Union of Animal Industry Enterprises and Blagopoluchiie Zhivotnykh (Animal Welfare Association), an Association of organizations and citizens for humane treatment of animals made relevant appeals, FV reports.
The organization, on behalf of many veterinary clinics, expressed concern about the draft document representing the initiative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to expand measures aimed at countering the spread of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. The organization sent its appeals to Ivan Gorbunov, the head of the Main Drug Control Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
The industry is concerned about the document as it proposes to tighten control over more than 20 newly listed substances, including tiletamine. The substance is used as a component of Telazol and Zoletil, medicines for veterinary use. They are widely used in veterinary medicine for various purposes, such as diagnostics, provision of planned and emergency care, as well as when catching stray animals.
If the draft is adopted, tiletamine will be assigned to list III, which means that the substance is to be included in Russia’s list of limited circulation psychotropic substances for which it is allowed to exclude certain control measures.
In relation to tiletamine, it is also proposed to establish the quantities to be considered significant, large, and especially large. Taking into consideration the standard concentrations of the substance, even one bottle of Telazol or two bottles of Zoletil in the minimum dosage will be regarded as the circulation of batches of significant quantity. The Ministry also proposes to limit the volume of imports of the substances to Russia by setting a total annual threshold of 40,000 grams of the active substance in the medications, the Union notes in its letter.
Now, according to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1794 of October 20, 2021, drugs containing substances from List III can only be used in veterinary medicine by legal entities that have a license to engage in activities that involve the circulation of narcotic and psychotropic substances. If the project is adopted, veterinary organizations of the system without a license for the circulation of narcotic and psychotropic substances will not be allowed to use the anesthetics that have already entered the market.
The Animal Welfare Association also stressed the importance of the drug for trapping stray animals and during desexing procedures. The Association also sent a message stating its concerns to Ivan Gorbunov.
Desexing is considered as a fundamental measure that allows to humanely and effectively limit the number of stray animals. The experience of the regions shows that this approach effectively mitigates the problem of homeless animals on the streets, follows from the appeal.