Overview

In Ontario, livestock owners may purchase livestock medicines from licenced retail outlets, called Livestock Medicine Outlets (LMOs). LMOs are authorized to sell designated over-the-counter livestock medicines that do not require a veterinary prescription. Their sale is regulated under the Animal Health Act, 2009, specifically:

  • Ontario Regulation 583/20 “Livestock Medicines”
  • Ontario Regulation 584/20 “Licences to Sell Livestock Medicines”

These will be referred to as “the regulations”.

The regulations require LMOs to obtain a licence to sell livestock medicines as well as specify what types of medicines can be sold and to whom they can be sold.

The regulations help to:

  • provide access to approved, safe and effective non-prescription medicines to livestock producers in Ontario
  • contribute to the health and welfare of livestock
  • protect the health of farm families and consumers
  • contribute to a safe food system

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Animal Health Act, 2009 and the regulations. Under the regulations, LMOs are subject to ministry inspections. OMAFRA uses a risk-based inspection system to assess compliance, helping us to better utilize resources to ensure the safe and responsible sale of over-the-counter livestock medicines.

Licenced livestock medicines outlets

Legislation links

Animal Health Act, 2009

Canada Feeds Act

Food and Drugs Act

Information for livestock medicines vendors

Compliance Manual for the Sale of Livestock Medicines

Application for a licence to sell Livestock Medicines under the Livestock Medicines Act

Information for livestock owners

Giving medication to animals by injection

Safe on-farm storage of unwanted medicines and sharps

Additional information and resources

Medicines only available from a veterinarian

Some medicines are only available from a veterinarian by prescription and require the veterinarian to fulfill obligations under the Veterinarians Act. One obligation is to have a veterinary-client-patient relationship established, which includes examining the animal and establishing a diagnosis.

Livestock medicines outlets/vendors

Retailers of farm supplies, animal feeds and tack frequently sell various forms of livestock medicines. These locations are referred to as livestock medicines outlets (LMOs). The type of products sold and the inventory available varies greatly from location to location.

Medicines outlets are permitted to sell

Permitted medicines are listed in the Ontario Regulation 583/20 “Livestock Medicines” under the Animal Health Act, 2009. Page 36 of the Compliance Manual outlines the approved medicines. These medicines do not require a veterinary prescription because Health Canada has designated them as safe to be sold to producers for use on their own animals. Livestock producers must follow the label directions, and any variation from the directions is considered extra-label use and should only be done under veterinary supervision.

Requirements for storage of livestock medicines

Livestock medicines outlets licensed under the Animal Health Act, 2009 must sell all medicines in the containers in which they were received, and must be stored in accordance with manufacturer directions.

Enforcement of the Animal Health Act, 2009 and regulations and inspection of livestock medicines outlets

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for administering the Animal Health Act, 2009 and regulations. Ministry animal care specialists appointed under the Act are responsible for performing inspections of livestock medicines outlets to ensure vendors are operating in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

Inspection at livestock medicines outlets

During an inspection, an inspector performs an audit of the premises where livestock medicines are sold. A report of the inspection is reviewed with the operator and a copy is left at the premises.

Inspectors also review sales practices, medicine storage and records. Medicines must be properly stored in sanitary conditions. Non-designated or expired products are not permitted to be sold.

Frequency of inspection and licence renewal

A licence the sell livestock medicines issued under the Animal Health Act, 2009 does not expire. However, a licenced owner must provide notice to the director of any changes to the information required in the application for a licence.

Licenses may be obtained by a livestock medicines outlet operator at no cost for the sale of medicines listed in Ontario Regulation 583/20 “Livestock Medicines” at a permanent and established place of business. If the applicant intends to sell livestock medicines only online or at temporary locations, the place of business would be considered where livestock medicines are stored. Outlets are typically inspected annually or more frequently if follow-up inspections are required due to non-compliance.

Seizure of livestock medicines from livestock medicines outlets

Inspectors appointed under the Animal Health Act, 2009 are permitted to seize medicines if they have reason to believe the operator is not licensed or that a licensed operator is in some way contravening the Act or its regulations. Inspectors also have the power to sample any substance for analysis and to request records and documents from the outlet operator.

Disposal of expired medicines

Approved methods of disposal of livestock medicines include returning the product(s) to the manufacturer or distributor, removal by a waste disposal company, and asking about preferred methods of livestock medicines disposal in your municipality. Expired livestock medicines should never be disposed of with regular household waste, given away, or flushed down the drain.

Re-packaging and re-labeling livestock medicines

Ontario Regulation 584/20 “Licences to Sell Livestock Medicines” does not allow livestock medicine outlet operators to sell products that have been re-packaged or re-labelled. All livestock medicines must be sold in the container provided by the manufacturer along with the original labelling.

Different livestock medicines must be stored in accordance with the instructions on the manufacturer's label. For instance, vaccines must be refrigerated.

Contact Information

For more information:

Agricultural Information Contact Centre
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
Tel: (519) 826-4047
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca