The Federal Trade Commission will host a workshop focusing on the pet medications industry in the United States tomorrow in Washington, DC. FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz will provide opening remarks, and will be joined at the event by industry members, veterinarians, and other professionals involved in the sale of pet medications.
The workshop will examine the ways pet medications are distributed to consumers, and how these practices affect consumer choice and price competition. Among other issues, the workshop will consider the extent to which consumers are able to obtain written, portable prescriptions that they can fill wherever they choose, and their ability to verify the safety and effectiveness of the pet medications they buy.
The workshop will open with introductory remarks on both the veterinary profession and the pet medications industry. This will be followed by a series of participant-hosted panels on how pet medications are distributed, the portability of prescription pet medications, and lessons learned from the contact lens industry regarding restricted distribution and portability issues. The FTC’s Office of Policy Planning is hosting the event and will provide closing remarks. Biographical information will be posted on the workshop webpage for each presenter and panel participant prior to the workshop.
| Competition & Consumer Protection Issues in the Pet Medications Industry | |
| 8:45 – 9:00 am | Opening Remarks FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz |
| 9:15 – 9:45 am | Introductory Presentations – Overview of Veterinary Profession Overview of the Veterinary Profession: Dr. Douglas Aspros, DVM, President of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and Companion Animal Practitioner Overview of the Pet Medications Industry: Dr. Paul D. Pion, DVM, President and Co-Founder for the Veterinary Information Network (VIN)
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| 10:00 – 11:45 am | Panel Discussion on the Distribution of Pet Medications Discussion of current industry distribution practices for pet medications, including vertical restrictions imposed by manufacturers and the emergence of a secondary distribution system, and how these practices affect consumer choice and price competition for over-the-counter and prescription pet medications. Discussion of whether consumers can adequately verify the safety and efficacy of products purchased from non-veterinary retailers and pharmacies. |
| 1:00 – 2:45 pm | Panel Discussion on the Portability of Prescription Pet Medications Introductory Presentation: Mr. Adrian Hochstadt, Assistant Director of AVMA’s State Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Division Discussion of consumers’ ability to obtain written, portable copies of their pet medication prescriptions, and whether pending federal legislation, H.R. 1406, Fairness to Pet Owners Act, is necessary for the further development of a competitive marketplace. Discussion of potential consumer savings opportunities that may result if legislation is passed, as well as the legislation’s potential impact on veterinary practices. |
| 3:00 – 4:30 pm | Panel Discussion on the Lessons Learned from the Contact Lens Industry: Modeling Effects of Restricted Distribution and Prescription Portability on Consumer Markets Introductory Presentation: Sydney Knight, Attorney, Division of Advertising Practices, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission Discussion about the impact of the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act and the elimination of restricted distribution practices for contact lenses. Discussion of the similarities and differences between the contact lens and pet medication industries, and the degree to which the evolution of the contact lens industry provides a reliable basis for predicting the potential consumer cost savings and non-price benefits that might result from eliminating vertical restrictions for the distribution of pet medications and empowering pet owners with prescription portability. |
The workshop is free and open to the public, and pre-registration is not required. It will be held at the FTC’s satellite conference center at 601 New Jersey Ave., NW, Washington, DC. Additional information about registration can be found on the agency’s website.
The FTC’s Bureau of Competition works with the Bureau of Economics to investigate alleged anticompetitive business practices and, when appropriate, recommends that the Commission take law enforcement action. To inform the Bureau about particular business practices, call 202-326-3300, send an e-mail to antitrust@ftc.gov, or write to the Office of Policy and Coordination, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission, 601 New Jersey Ave., Room 7117, Washington, DC 20580. To learn more about the Bureau of Competition, read Competition Counts. Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.
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