EBA сalls for a review of the regulation of pain relief medicines in veterinary medicine

07/ 10/ 2026

The European Business Association calls on the relevant state authorities to review the list of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors permitted for use in veterinary medicine. The current regulatory framework does not take into account the modern needs of veterinary medicine and limits veterinarians’ access to medicines necessary for effective pain relief in animals. The relevant list is established by Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution No. 721 of 2011 and has not been reviewed since then. At the same time, Ukrainian veterinary medicine has developed significantly over this period. Today, veterinarians perform complex neurosurgical, cardiac, orthopaedic and oncological procedures, joint replacements, as well as provide intensive care to animals in critical condition. The issue has become particularly pressing during the full-scale war. Veterinary professionals treat animals with blast injuries, multiple fractures, burns and other severe injuries, which are often accompanied by severe pain and require urgent and effective pain relief. At the same time, the current List No. 721 permits only two psychotropic substances for use in veterinary medicine — pentobarbital and ketamine. According to veterinary professionals, this is insufficient for applying modern approaches to anaesthesia and multimodal pain management. In particular, veterinary professionals have limited access to active substances such as buprenorphine, morphine, fentanyl, nalbuphine, midazolam, diazepam and phenobarbital. This creates a legal and professional dilemma for veterinarians. The Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of Animals from Cruel Treatment” provides for the protection of animals from suffering, while the current restrictions on the circulation of controlled substances do not always allow veterinarians to use the medicines necessary for effective management of severe pain. At the same time, business is not calling for weaker state controls over such medicines. Their use should continue to be subject to licensing, record-keeping, storage, reporting and control requirements. The issue is to ensure that, while complying with all established requirements, veterinarians have lawful access to a broader range of medicines necessary for appropriate treatment and pain relief in animals. In this regard, the European Business Association calls on the relevant state authorities to review List No. 721 and add modern medicinal products necessary for veterinary practice. Updating the regulatory framework would allow veterinary professionals to apply modern approaches to anaesthesia and pain management, improve the quality of veterinary care and ensure appropriate protection of animals from suffering. At the same time, this would contribute to further aligning Ukrainian veterinary practice and regulation with European approaches.

The relevant list is established by Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution No. 721 of 2011 and has not been reviewed since then. At the same time, Ukrainian veterinary medicine has developed significantly over this period. Today, veterinarians perform complex neurosurgical, cardiac, orthopaedic and oncological procedures, joint replacements, as well as provide intensive care to animals in critical condition.

The issue has become particularly pressing during the full-scale war. Veterinary professionals treat animals with blast injuries, multiple fractures, burns and other severe injuries, which are often accompanied by severe pain and require urgent and effective pain relief.

At the same time, the current List No. 721 permits only two psychotropic substances for use in veterinary medicine — pentobarbital and ketamine. According to veterinary professionals, this is insufficient for applying modern approaches to anaesthesia and multimodal pain management. In particular, veterinary professionals have limited access to active substances such as buprenorphine, morphine, fentanyl, nalbuphine, midazolam, diazepam and phenobarbital.

This creates a legal and professional dilemma for veterinarians. The Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of Animals from Cruel Treatment” provides for the protection of animals from suffering, while the current restrictions on the circulation of controlled substances do not always allow veterinarians to use the medicines necessary for effective management of severe pain.

At the same time, business is not calling for weaker state controls over such medicines. Their use should continue to be subject to licensing, record-keeping, storage, reporting and control requirements. The issue is to ensure that, while complying with all established requirements, veterinarians have lawful access to a broader range of medicines necessary for appropriate treatment and pain relief in animals.

In this regard, the European Business Association calls on the relevant state authorities to review List No. 721 and add modern medicinal products necessary for veterinary practice.

Updating the regulatory framework would allow veterinary professionals to apply modern approaches to anaesthesia and pain management, improve the quality of veterinary care and ensure appropriate protection of animals from suffering. At the same time, this would contribute to further aligning Ukrainian veterinary practice and regulation with European approaches.