In September 2000, the EMEA Veterinary Unit Secretariat was requested by
the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)
to provide information in order that the health and social risks as to the
possible consequences of prohibition of ketamine could be assessed. This
was to be considered at a meeting to be held in Lisbon, Portugal, on 25 and
26 September 2000. As ketamine is not a centrally authorised product under
the terms of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2309/93, the EMEA undertook to
consult with the competent authorities for veterinary medicinal products in
the Member States as to the authorisation status of this product at national
level and sought detailed information on its use and value as a veterinary
medicinal product for veterinary practitioners in the European Union. As a
result of that consultation, through the Veterinary Mutual Recognition
Facilitation Group of the European Union and an in-depth review with
the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE), the following points can be
concluded about the use of ketamine in veterinary practice in Europe.

Ketamine constitutes an essential medicine for the veterinary profession in the
EU today. It is widely used for anaesthesia and analgesia by the veterinary
profession. Ketamine is an essential anaesthetic for veterinary use, because
it is the only injectable anaesthetic that is safe, well established and well
tolerated among the full range of species that the veterinarians are called
upon to treat. These include both large and small domestic animals, children’s
pets and laboratory animals, large, wild and zoo animals, as well as birds
and reptiles. It has been used safely by virtually every veterinary practice
throughout Europe and on a global basis under prescription-only medicine
conditions for many years.

Whilst the veterinary profession also uses pure μ-opioid analgesics, in most
countries these are kept under very tightly controlled conditions, locked in
a dedicated cupboard with only veterinary access, their use recorded very
precisely. There is no doubt that pure μ-agonists are not used as often as
good anaesthetic and analgesic practice would indicate, because they are
controlled under such tight restrictions. It would therefore be very detrimental
to good veterinary practice if ketamine also had to be kept under such stringent
restrictions. On welfare grounds alone, it is essential that the veterinary
profession is able to use such an agent easily on a daily basis and in field
situations where inhalation anaesthesia is not possible.

London, 28 May 2001