TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan may postpone the rollout of new rules governing the use of human medicines on pets, Deputy Agriculture Minister Tu Wen-jane (杜文珍) said Friday.
The draft regulation, originally set to take effect in July, would control the use of human drugs on dogs, cats, and other non-production animals. It is intended to legalize and better regulate the veterinary use of human medicines, while preventing their misuse, according to CNA.
The proposed system would affect the use of 701 human medicines in veterinary care. Under the plan, pharmaceutical companies would need to register each medicine before use in animals is permitted.
However, only 144 medicines have been registered so far. This has raised concerns among veterinarians, animal welfare groups, and pet owners about possible disruptions in treatment access.
Authorities said one possible workaround would allow veterinarians to obtain purchase certificates to buy the medicines from pharmacies for clinical use. However, concerns remain that this may not adequately cover nighttime or emergencies.
Veterinary associations, pharmacists, animal protection groups, and pet owners gathered outside the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency on Friday to voice concerns over the policy. They urged the government to delay its implementation.
They called for a shift to a system that lists restricted medicines rather than requiring prior approval for each approved drug. They also pushed for greater public participation in the policymaking process.
The agency later held a consultation meeting with stakeholders to gather feedback. Tu said the July timeline could be maintained if consensus is reached, but a delay remains possible if agreement cannot be reached, in order to avoid disrupting veterinary care.
Tu added that the agency is in discussions with the Food and Drug Administration. One option under consideration is for government agencies to take a more proactive role in assisting the registration process, rather than waiting for pharmaceutical companies to submit applications.
