Animal Health & Safety and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine is a microcosm of FDA for animals – we regulate drugs, food, and devices for pets, livestock, zoo animals and others. Although COVID-19 is understood to primarily be a human disease, CVM and its stakeholders are experiencing the impact of the outbreak in other ways.
This page compiles information and resources available to industry members and consumers on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and animal health and safety.
For additional information, see FDA's Frequently Asked Questions about Animals, Pets and Animal Drug Products (En Español) or visit FDA's main page Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Recent Relevant FDA News
- July 10, 2020 - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA prepares for resumption of domestic inspections with new risk assessment system
- May 22, 2020 - FDA and USDA Release Recommendations for those in the Food and Agriculture Sector Experiencing Shortages of PPE, Cloth Face Coverings, Disinfectants, and Sanitation Supplies
- May 19, 2020 - USDA, FDA Strengthen U.S. Food Supply Chain Protections
- May 7, 2020 - FDA Issues Guidance on Reporting and Mitigating Animal Drug Shortages during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
- April 22, 2020 - FDA Issues Temporary Policy for Certain Requirements under the Accredited Third-Party Certification Program During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
- April 16, 2020 - FDA’s Perspective on Food Safety and Availability During and Beyond COVID-19
- April 16, 2020 - FDA Warns Two Firms Marketing Unapproved Chloroquine Phosphate Animal Drug Products
- April 3, 2020 - FDA To Temporarily Conduct Remote Importer Inspections Under FSVP Due to COVID-19
- March 28, 2020 - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA takes further steps to help mitigate supply interruptions of food and medical products
- March 24, 2020 - FDA Offers Assurance About Food Safety and Supply for People and Animals During COVID-19
- March 24, 2020 - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Helps Facilitate Veterinary Telemedicine During Pandemic
- March 18, 2020 - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Focuses on Safety of Regulated Products While Scaling Back Domestic Inspections
- March 17, 2020 - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Issues Temporary Policy for FSMA Onsite Audit Requirements
I’m looking for COVID-19-related information on…
Animal Drugs
- FDA Issues Guidance on Reporting and Mitigating Animal Drug Shortages during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Issues Guidance on Conduct and Review of Studies to Support New Animal Drug Development
- FDA Letter to Stakeholders: Do Not Use Chloroquine Phosphate Intended for Fish as Treatment for COVID-19 in Humans (En Español)
- FDA Letter to Stakeholders: Do Not Use Ivermectin Intended for Animals as Treatment for COVID-19 in Humans (En Español)
- FAQ: COVID-19 and Ivermectin Intended for Animals (En Español)
- Animal Drug Shortages
- Human Drug Shortages (many of the drugs used in veterinary medicine are approved for the human market).
Animal Food
- Industry FAQs: Animal Food Safety and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- CVM Fact Sheet: Safely Distributing Unused Human Food for Animal Food Use - updated 4/6/2020
- FDA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Briefing for Animal Food Stakeholders
- Consumer Update: Food Safety and Availability During the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Constituent Update: April 3, 2020 - FDA To Temporarily Conduct Remote Importer Inspections Under FSVP Due to COVID-19
- Fact Sheet: What to Do if You Have COVID-19 Confirmed Positive or Exposed Workers in Your Food Production, Storage, or Distribution Operations Regulated by FDA
- Fact Sheet: Use of Respirators, Facemasks, and Cloth Face Coverings in the Food and Agriculture Sector During Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic
- Food and Agriculture: Considerations for Prioritization of PPE, Cloth Face Coverings, Disinfectants, and Sanitation Supplies During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Animal Devices
- Consumer Update: Beware of Fraudulent Coronavirus Tests, Vaccines and Treatments
- Letter to Health Care Providers: Ventilator Supply Mitigation Strategies
- Letter to Health Care Providers: Medical Glove Conservation Strategies
- FAQs on 3D Printing of Medical Devices, Accessories, Components, and Parts During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Webinar - Enforcement Policy for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) During COVID-19: Immediately in Effect Guidance
Information by Audience
Industry Support
- Guidances
- Industry FAQs: Animal Food Safety and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) Fact Sheet - Safely Distributing Unused Human Food for Animal Food Use - updated 4/6/2020
- FDA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Briefing for Animal Food Stakeholders
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Issues Guidance on Conduct and Review of Studies to Support New Animal Drug Development
- Constituent Update: April 3, 2020 - FDA To Temporarily Conduct Remote Importer Inspections Under FSVP Due to COVID-19
- Questions About Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Importing COVID-19 Supplies
- Fact Sheet: What to Do if You Have COVID-19 Confirmed Positive or Exposed Workers in Your Food Production, Storage, or Distribution Operations Regulated by FDA
- Fact Sheet: Use of Respirators, Facemasks, and Cloth Face Coverings in the Food and Agriculture Sector During Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic
- Food and Agriculture: Considerations for Prioritization of PPE, Cloth Face Coverings, Disinfectants, and Sanitation Supplies During the COVID-19 Pandemic
For Consumers
- Safely Using Hand Sanitizer
- Food Safety and Availability During the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA takes further steps to help mitigate supply interruptions of food and medical products
- Beware of Fraudulent Coronavirus Tests, Vaccines and Treatments
- Animals and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Consumer Update: Helpful Questions and Answers about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Your Pets
For Veterinarians
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Resources for Health Professionals
- FDA Helps Facilitate Veterinary Telemedicine During Pandemic
- Ventilator Supply Mitigation Strategies: Letter to Health Care Providers
- Medical Glove Conservation Strategies: Letter to Health Care Providers
- FAQs on 3D Printing of Medical Devices, Accessories, Components, and Parts During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Webinar - Enforcement Policy for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) During COVID-19: Immediately in Effect Guidance
- FAQs on Shortages of Surgical Masks and Gowns
- Questions About Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Resources
FDA Resources
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Animals, Pets, and Animal Drug Products FAQs
- Food Safety and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions (inglés)
- Preguntas frecuentes sobre la Enfermedad del Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) (Spanish)
- Fraudulent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Products - The FDA is actively monitoring for any firms marketing products with fraudulent COVID-19 prevention and treatment claims. The FDA is exercising its authority to protect consumers from firms selling unapproved products and making false or misleading claims, including, by pursuing warning letters, seizures, or injunctions against products and firms or individuals that violate the law.
USG Resources
- Coronavirus.gov
Information curated by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force at the White House. - CDC.gov
Public health and safety information and for the overarching medical and health provider community. - USA.gov
A catalog of U.S. government activities related to COVID-19.
How to Help
- If you have medical supplies or equipment to donate, please provide the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) details on what you are offering through the FEMA online medical supplies and equipment form.
- To sell medical supplies or equipment to the federal government, please submit a price quote under the COVID-19 PPE and Medical Supplies Request for Quotation.
- If you are a private company that wants to produce a product related to the COVID response – email nbeoc@max.gov.
- For additional information on how to help, visit FEMA’s How to Help webpage.
- If you are a hospital or healthcare provider in need of medical supplies, please contact your state, local, tribal or territory department of public health and/or emergency management agency.
Contact Us
Note: Contacting FDA about the same issue through multiple communications channels will not lead to a faster reply; in fact, it may delay FDA response by increasing the number of inquiries that need to be processed.
- Report Fraud or call 1-800-332-1088
- Report Shortages or Supply Issues
- Adverse Events
- Non-urgent inquiries - Contact AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov
- Media inquiries - Contact the Office of Media Affairs