Public Consultation on Draft Providing Pharmacy Services for Animals Policy
August 28, 2026The Ontario government’s Veterinary Professionals Act, 2024 (VPA) is expected to come into force in the near future and will give pharmacy professionals the authority to continue:
- Compounding veterinary prescriptions for animals
- Dispensing veterinary prescriptions for animals
- Selling veterinary medicines for animals
Without a regulatory exemption in the VPA, only veterinary professionals would be legally permitted to perform these activities. Pharmacy professionals have a long history of providing animal owners across Ontario with access to pharmacy services and the medications their animals need.
To support the exemption and to clearly outline expectations for providing pharmacy services to animals, the College has developed a draft Providing Pharmacy Services for Animals policy, which is now open for public consultation.
The College is seeking feedback on whether the policy expectations are clear, reasonable, and achievable, and whether any information may be missing that could create risks to animals or pharmacy practice.
Members of the public, pharmacy and veterinarian professionals, and interested organizations or system partners are encouraged to participate in the consultation by October 26, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Further details about the consultation, including how to share your feedback, are posted on our website.