The FVMA has an important update regarding compounding pharmacy agreements and the xylazine exemption.
Summary of the Situation
This past spring, the Florida Board of Pharmacy (BOP) passed a rule revision of Florida administrative rule 64B16-27.700.
The revision inadvertently has caused there to be a conflict with the current Florida statute 465.0276, which legally allows veterinarians to dispense compounded medications from office stock to their patients in urgent need.
Many compounding pharmacies have moved, based on the rule revision, to require a signed legal agreement that waives our dispensing abilities to purchase office stock inventory.
The BOP has acknowledged that a section of their rule conflicts with the Florida statute after the FVMA legislative team reached out for clarification.
What Your FVMA Team is Doing
The FVMA legislative team will be discussing and initiating the implementation of a rule correction following our submission of a Petition for Rule Making. We will be attending the BOP Rules Committee meeting on October 15th in Tallahassee to move the process forward.
Before any rule correction is finalized, the FVMA recommends a few possible options for veterinarians in our state:
Option 1: To not sign the agreement and wait for the conflict between the rule and the statute to be resolved and finalized. New agreements without restrictive dispensing language would then be available and able to be signed.
Option 2: If medications are needed, then an agreement must be signed to acquire office stock. Once the conflict between the rule and statute is resolved and finalized, request an updated agreement. (Individuals would be responsible for any actions that conflict with the signed agreement)
Option 3: Seek medications from another compounding pharmacy, as some are not as stringent in their restrictions.
The ultimate timeline for having the final language to correct the rule implemented is uncertain at this time.
If you have any questions regarding compounding pharmacy agreements, please reach out to us at info@fvma.org.
Once a decision has been made or if we have any other updates, we will ensure that we communicate them promptly to all our members.
Thank you for your continued support of the FVMA and for your unwavering dedication to your patients.
Update on Xylazine Exemption
On August 27, 2025, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, at the request of the FVMA, announced a proposal to reclassify xylazine from a Schedule 1 controlled substance to a Schedule 1 controlled substance with an exemption for veterinary use.
The FVMA has engaged in efforts over the past two years to get this exemption proposed, and we are incredibly pleased to see this proposal moving forward. The exemption is crucial for our members and all Florida veterinarians because it will allow all of you to be able to use a safe, effective sedative for animal health and well-being when appropriate.
We will continue our efforts to see this proposal passed, and as it moves through the state legislature, we will ensure that we communicate its status to all our members. We want to thank all the work our legislative team has done for this, and the continued support from our members.
The FVMA is committed to the continued advocacy for Florida’s veterinary professionals so that you can focus on the most important thing you have all devoted your lives to: the care of your patients.
If you have any questions regarding the xylazine exemption proposal, please reach out to us at info@fvma.org.
Additionally, you can read the attorney general’s news release here.