How to import a foreign veterinary anesthetic specialty?

For example, there is no veterinary medicine authorized and appropriate in France for the anesthesia of fish or aquatic amphibians.

Recourse to importation may therefore be necessary in certain situations.

Two scenarios are possible depending on the applicant and the purpose:

Request made by the pharmacy manager for so-called non-therapeutic use (as part of a scientific research procedure) :

The decree of February 1, 2013 relating to the delivery and use of medicines used by establishments approved as users of animals for scientific purposes stipulates that an establishment using animals for scientific purposes may acquire, hold and use veterinary medicines to treat animals in the exclusive context of carrying out experimental procedures carried out within the establishment.

The process of importing a medicine for non-use therapeutic by a user establishment is as follows:

1. Declaration from the head of pharmacy to ANSES with the model “Declaration from the person responsible for the supply, stock management and use of medicines” (to be sent to etab@anses.fr); More information on this page;

2. Have a validated project authorization in which the use of the medication is indicated;

3. Apply for import authorization from the ANMV (ANSES) with the import request form for non-therapeutic use. Do not forget to attach the copy of the establishment approval, copy of the project authorization and the copy of the authorization of the person responsible for inventory management (point no. 1) as well as the RCP (collection of product characteristics). All documents should be sent to enreg@anses.fr. More information on this page;

4. Contact the rights holder directly by email to place an order (send a copy of the import authorization issued by ANSES):

For Benzoak-Vet: ACD Pharmaceuticals AS, Postboks 344, 8376 Leknes, Norway/Norway, post@acdpharma.com, +4776060930. Download the SPC of this medicine …

For Aquacen Benzocaina: Carlos Rodríguez, DVM - crodriguez@cenavisa.com, +34608856280, Cenavisa - Calle del Boters 4, 43205 Reus, Spain/Spain. Download the SPC of this medicine …

For Tricaine Pharmaq: Roberto Guijarro de la Cal - order.pharmaq@zoetis.com & CC: roberto.guijarro@zoetis.com, +34914191935, Zoetis - Calle Quintanavides 13, - Edificio 1, 3ª planta - Parque Empresarial Vía Norte 28050, Madrid, Spain/Spain. Download the SPC of this medicine …

For Aqui-S vet: customer.services.no@merck.com, +4755543735, MSD - Thormøhlens Gate 55, 5006 Bergen, Norway. Download the SPC of this medicine …

5. Trace all uses in the medicines register

For medicines coming from Europe, it is necessary to allow, if the file is complete, a maximum of 20 days for the process (step 3), extended to a maximum of 45 days if the medicine comes from a third country.

Request made by the treating veterinarian for therapeutic use (non-procedural care):

In this case, the procedure is simplified :

1. Submit an import authorization request to the ANMV (ANSES) with the import request form for therapeutic use. Don’t forget to attach the prescription you wrote, as well as the RCP (collection of product characteristics). All documents should be sent to enreg@anses.fr. More information on this page;

2. Contact the rights holder directly (same as point 4 above) by email to place an order (send a copy of the import authorization issued by ANSES).