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  1. Development & Approval Process

Does the State or Federal VCPR Definition Apply to a Lawful VFD in my State?

In order for a Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) to be lawful, the issuing veterinarian must meet a couple of requirements, including issuing the VFD in the context of a valid veterinarian-client patient relationship (VCPR).

The VFD regulation at 21 CFR § 558.6 provides that:

  • veterinarians must be licensed to practice veterinary medicine; and 
  • must issue VFDs in accordance with the applicable State veterinary licensing and practice requirements, including ordering the use of VFD drugs in the context of a VCPR as defined by the State. 

However, in those instances in which the applicable VCPR requirements as defined by such State do not sufficiently include the key elements of a valid VCPR as defined by FDA in 21 CFR § 530.3(i), the veterinarian issuing the VFD must issue the VFD in the context of a valid VCPR as defined in that regulation.

In 2015, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) mailed a letter to the entity with authority over the practice of veterinary medicine in each of the 50 states and District of Columbia.  In that letter, CVM committed to publish a list indicating whether a state-defined VCPR or a federally-defined VCPR is required for a lawful VFD in each state.  This information is presented in the table below and was last updated in 2021. Please refer to your state directly for the most up to date information. 

VCPR Requirement by State

State For a lawful VFD, this VCPR definition applies: State Authority
Alabama Federal Sec. 34-29-61 (20); Sec. 34-29-76 (9); Rule 930-X-1-.1
Alaska Federal 12 AAC 68.080 Sec 08.98.250
Arizona State Chapter 21. Article 1. Section 32-2201 (25); Article 3. Sec. 32-2232 (25)
Arkansas Federal A.C.A. Sec 17-101-102 (11); A.C.A. Sec 17-101-102 and 305
California State 16 CCR Sec. 2032.1 (b); 2032.1 (a)
Colorado State C.R.S. Sec 12-315-104 (19); 4 CCR 727-1, Rule 1.18 (7) 1.21 (9)
Connecticut Federal Sec. 20-197
Delaware Federal Title 24 Chapter 33 Sec. 3302
District of Columbia Federal Sec. 2813 and 2899
Florida Federal Chapter 474.202 (12); 474.214 (y); Chapter 465.003 (8) & (14); 61 G 18-30.001 (y)
Georgia State OCGA Sec 43-50-3 (29); OCGA Sec. 43-50-3 (11); Rule 700-8.01 (d)
Hawaii Federal HRS Sec 471-10 (b)(12); Chapter 471
Idaho Federal IDAPA 24.38.01 (150); (152); (153.03);(153.04);  Section 54-2115
Illinois State 225 ILCS 115/3; 225 ILCS 115/25; Section 1500.50
Indiana State IC 25-38.1-1-14.5; 888 IAC 1.1-5-1; Rule 5
Iowa State 811 IAC 12.1(169); 811-12.2 or 12.3 (169)
Kansas Federal Kansas Veterinary Practice Act 47-816 (n), 47-830(r); Kansas Administrative Regulations Article 70-7-1 (f) and (i) and 70-8-1 (k)
Kentucky State KRS Sec. 321.185 (1)
Louisiana State LAC 46:LXXXV.700; Sec 705 A 1 Prohibited Activities
Maine State Title 32, Sec. 21. 32 MRSA §4877;  §4864; §4876
Maryland Federal COMAR 15.14.01.03 B. (14); 15.14.01.03 (5); 15.14.01.12-2 (B)
Massachusetts Federal 256 CMR 2.01; 5.02; 7.01 (2) (e)
Michigan Federal MCL 333.18805
Minnesota State Minn. Stat. Sec 156.16 (12); 9100.0800 Subpart (1)
Mississippi State Sec 73-39-53 (v); Part 1701 Chapter 3; Sec 73-39-53 (s); Sec 73-39-59 (2)
Missouri State Chapter 340.200 (23); 340.200 (15); 20 CSR 2270-4.031
Montana State Chapter 24.225.301(11);  24.225.50
Nebraska State R.R.S. Neb Sec. 38-3316; 38-3312 (1)
Nevada State NAC 638.0197; NAC 638.048
New Hampshire State Part Vet 102.01(ar); 501.01;  RSA 332-B:14, II (c)
New Jersey Federal N.J.A.C 13:44-4.1 (b)(1); 13:44-4.1 (b)
New Mexico State Chapter 21. Article 14. Sec. 61-14-2 N ; 61-14-13 (22)
New York Federal Article 135; Practice Guideline 5.11
North Carolina State N.C. Gen. Stat. Sec 90-181 (7a); 90-187.8 (c) (18)
North Dakota State Chapter 43-29-01.1 (9); Minimum standards of practice 87-05-02-02
Ohio State Ohio Revised Code Sec. 4741.04; 4741.22; Rule 4741-1-05
Oklahoma  State Sec. 698.2 (13); 698.14a E 20; 698.11 A 1
Oregon State OR Admin R 875- 005-0005(14); 875- 011-0020 (11); 875- 015-0030 (7) (b) and (d); 875- 015-0030 (2)(a) generally and (f)(R)
Pennsylvania Federal P.L.995, No.326, Sec 3 (15); Chapter 31.21 (Principal 8 Drugs)
Rhode Island Federal R.I. Gen. Laws Sec. 5-25-2 (6) and 21-31.1-13
South Carolina State S.C. Code Regs. 120-1 Definitions C VCPR; 120-10 D (1)
South Dakota Federal Sec. 39-18-34.1; 36-12-22
Tennessee State T.C.A Sec. 63-12-103(17); Rule 1730-01.21
Texas State Section 801.351 Subchapter H; 801.402(13)
Utah State Utah Administrative Code Sec. 58-28-102 (19); 58-28-604; R156-28-502(3)
Vermont State 26 V.S.A. § 2433; Rule 3.7, See also 2.1 (k)
Virginia Federal Sec. 54.1-3303; 18 VAC 150-20-172; Sec. 54.1-3455 Schedule VI (2) and (3)
Washington State WAC 246-933-200; 246-933-020(7); 246-933-060; and 246-934-020(5)
West Virginia Federal Article 10 Sec. 30-10-3 (w); 10 Sec. 30-10-3 (o); 30-10-9 & Series 4 Standards of Practice Sec 26-4-5 5.1c; & Sec. 26-4-5 05.3a
Wisconsin Federal W.S.A. 89.02 (8); 89.02(9); 89.068 and VE 7
Wyoming State WCWR 024-251-004 Chapter 9 Sec 3

 

 
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