French Public Health Code
In forceI.-Without prejudice to the provisions applicable to medicinal products classified as narcotics, any prescription for medicinal products mentioned in article L. 5143-5, as well as in II of article L. 234-2 of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code, is written, after a veterinary diagnosis, on a prescription that legibly indicates :
1° The surname, first name and address of the veterinarian, his national registration number when he is required to register and his signature ;
2° The surname, first name or company name and address of the keeper of the animals;
3° The date of the prescription and, where applicable, the date of the last visit if different;
4° Identification of the animals: the species as well as the age and sex, the name or identification number of the animal or any means of identifying the batch of animals;
5° The name or formula of the veterinary medicinal product; when the prescription concerns a medicated feed, the name or formula of the medicated premix to be incorporated into this feed as well as its rate of incorporation;
6° The dosage, the quantity prescribed and the duration of treatment; when the prescription concerns medicated feed, the quantity of medicated feed indicated in kilograms, as well as the proportion of medicated feed in the daily ration and the duration of treatment;
7° The route of administration and, where appropriate, the point of injection or implantation;
8° In the case of animals whose flesh or products are intended for human consumption, the withdrawal period, even if this is zero.
II.-1° Renewal of supply is prohibited for veterinary medicinal products containing one or more critically important antibiotic substances mentioned in article L. 5144-1-1, or containing substances mentioned either in c, f or g of article L. 5144-1 of the present code, or in II of article L. 234-2 of the rural and maritime fishing code.
2° The dispensing may be renewed for veterinary medicinal products containing poisonous substances, if these are included on the list provided for in article L. 5143-6 and if the medicinal product is used for the prophylactic treatment of diseases usually encountered on the farm in question.
If the poisonous substances do not appear on the list provided for in article L. 5143-6 or appear on the list without the medicinal product being used for the prophylactic treatment of conditions usually encountered on the farm in question, the supply of veterinary medicinal products covered by list I of poisonous substances may only be renewed with a written indication from the prescribing veterinarian specifying the number of renewals or the duration of the treatment and the supply of veterinary medicinal products covered by list II of poisonous substances may be renewed when the prescriber has not expressly forbidden this.
III -The prescription is valid for a maximum period of one year, with the exception of the prescription of a veterinary medicinal product containing one or more critically important antibiotic substances mentioned in article L. 5144-1-1 for which the maximum period is one month.
IV - For veterinary medicinal products prescribed to animals whose flesh or products are intended for human consumption, the prescription is kept by the keeper of the animals for the period set by the decree provided for in the last paragraph of II of article L. 234-1 of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code.
In the event of animals being sold by successive keepers during the waiting period for the medicine, the prescription is passed on to the new purchaser. If there is more than one keeper of animals for which the same prescription has been issued, a copy of the prescription is given to each new purchaser. A copy of the prescription is kept by the initial keeper of the animals in the breeding register.
V.-At least three copies of the prescription for medicated feed must be provided. Two copies, including the original, are given to the keeper of the animals to be presented to the manufacturer or distributor. One copy is kept by the latter for a period of five years; the original is returned to the animal keeper when the medicated feed is delivered. A copy is kept by the prescribing veterinarian for a period of five years.
VI.-Any order for professional use of medicinal products for human use with a view to the application of 3° of article L. 5143-4 is written by the veterinarian on a prescription and legibly indicates :
1° The name, position and registration number of the veterinarian when he is required to register, his address and signature, as well as the date of the order ;
2° The name of the medicinal product and the quantity ordered;
3° The words "Professional use".
VII - The prescribing veterinarian must sign immediately below the last line of the prescription or render unusable the space left between this last line and his signature by any appropriate means. This rule also applies to orders for professional use.
In the event of loss or theft of his prescriptions, the veterinary surgeon shall report this without delay to the police authorities.
VIII - The provisions of this article also apply when the veterinarian administers the medicine to the animal himself.
