Regulatory

Rockville, Md. -- The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) is accepting comments through Jan. 26 on a planned regulation that would ban use of cattle tissues in animal feeds.

Sacramento, Calif. -- Little headway has been made over the past weeks to ease deficit concerns in California, and a 10 percent veterinary service tax remains an option for legislators to close a multi-billion budget gap.

Sacramento, Calif. - Veterinary technicians with five years of clinical experience and a minimum of 24 hours of education can now take the California State Registered Veterinary Technician Exam.

National Report - Veterinarians are protesting a state proposal to tax veterinary services in California. Hundreds of letters were sent to the California Veterinary Medical Association. Currently, only three other states tax veterinary services - Hawaii, New Mexico and South Dakota, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Talk about last-minute changes in tax laws that will affect veterinarians.

National Report - State licensing boards are waging war against lay persons performing veterinary medicine, but with attorneys unwilling to prosecute the problem continues to grow. Some believe lay persons are pushing the boundary by offering therapeutic massage, reproductive and chiropractic services.

Franklin, Tenn. - Mars Petcare US voluntarily recalled a limited number of bags of a gourmet dry cat food.

Topeka, Kan. - A newly formed veterinary task force in Kansas will determine whether DVMs there will remain exempt from a new law requiring those who dispense scheduled substances to report to an electronic prescription monitoring program.

Washington, D.C. - An FDA-ordered ban of extra-label use of cephalosporin antimicrobial drugs was delayed after nearly 300 comments poured in during an extended period.

Harrisburg, Pa. -- The new nine-member Canine Health Board -- made up of veterinarians from the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association and the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical School, as well as Republican and Democratic legislative leaders -- has met for the second time in less than a month to work on guidelines for the recently passed Pennsylvania dog law.

Sacramento -- Increased pet abandonment, euthanasia and public-health problems will be the likely result of the a newly proposed California tax on veterinary services, according to a statement issued today by the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA).

California is looking for ways to make ends meet, including a proposed new veterinary service tax.

Brussels -- The European Union's (EU) Veterinary Week 2008 kicks off today.

Topeka, Kan. -- Veterinarians in Kansas currently are exempt from a new law requiring those who dispense scheduled substances from reporting to an electronic prescription monitoring program, but a new veterinary task force will determine whether that exemption stays.

Washington -- An FDA-ordered ban of extra-label use of cephalosporin in food-producing animals could be delayed after nearly 300 comments poured in during an already extended public comment period.

The AVMA is offering assistance to California food-animal producers in the wake of the Prop 2 passage.

On the second try, humane groups in Massachusetts finally succeeding in getting a statewide dog racing ban passed.

Passage of Prop 2 will mean big changes for California's food-animal industry.

Harrisburg, Pa. - Pennsylvania legislators passed a controversial law aimed at improving conditions for dogs in so-called puppy mills.

New York - New York is the latest state to adopt a tougher stance on steroid use in racehorses.

Sacramento, Calif. - Should unregistered veterinary technicians get a one-year window to take a certification examination based on a lot of experience and just 24 hours of education?

New York - A Congressional panel earlier this year questioned whether the nation's horse racing industry had the will and ability to regulate itself or whether government intervention would be necessary.

In New York, a dapper bachelor could enlist a dog each Saturday to help him find his date for the night.

The California Veterinary Medical Board (CVMB) officially approved a regulatory change Oct. 22 that will allow veterinary assistants with five years of clinical experience and at least 24 hours of formal education to take the California State Registered Veterinary Technician Exam between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2009.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) urges candidate leadership on several issues.

Washington -- The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Congressional Science Fellows have accepted positions on Capitol Hill, serving in capacities that coincide with their interests and enabling them to provide expertise to Congress, all while serving the veterinary profession.

Washington -- The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is accepting applications for its Congressional Science Fellows.

New York -- New York is the latest state to adopt a tougher stance on steroid use in racehorses.