1. Definition of Online Veterinary Dispensaries
   
   Online veterinary dispensaries (e-vet dispensaries) refer to any electronic means of providing dispensary services for health products intended for use in animals, which include, but are not limited to, the following:
   

   (1)	Allowing consumers to purchase or submit purchase orders for health products intended for use in animals;
   (2)	Interpreting, evaluating and validating prescriptions issued by veterinarians for the use of medications in animals;
   (3)	Labelling, dispensing and supplying medications for use in animals according to instructions provided by the prescribing veterinarian.

   
   
2. Who Is Required to Register Online Veterinary Dispensaries
   
   Online veterinary dispensaries that provide services for veterinary health products intended for animal use must register with Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS). This includes the dispensation of prescription-only products under the direction of a licensed veterinarian.
   
   
3. Basic Eligibility Requirements
   
   The e-vet dispensary must meet the following criteria:
   

   (1)	The e-vet-dispensary service should be operated in Singapore and hosted on a Singapore domain name.
   (2)	The e-vet-dispensary should be hosted on an independent website and not on any third-party marketplace.
   (3)	Have an AVS-licensed veterinarian overseeing the service operations. Only a veterinarian can provide advice on the treatment of animals, including an animal’s health condition and suitability of the use of medications in an animal. The veterinarian is overall responsible for the services of the e-vet-dispensary, including the proper storage, packaging, and supply of products.
   (4)	The retail supply of products must comply with the legal requirements stipulated in the relevant legislation, such as the Health Products (Therapeutic Products) Regulations, Poisons Act and Rules, Medicines Act, and Misuse of Drugs Act and Regulations.
   (5)	Veterinarians in e-vet-dispensaries are not permitted to issue prescriptions to animals that they have not attended to or examined, nor modify a prescription without prior consultation with the prescribing veterinarian.
   (6)	All operational procedures and protocols required for the provision of e-vet-dispensary services should be clearly mapped out and made available to regulatory authorities for evaluation.
   (7)	Any outsourced activities or services should meet the requirements for the e-vet-dispensary operations. There should be regular audits by the e-vet-dispensary on the competency and work of the outsourced service provider.

   
   
4. Registration Requirements
   
   The e-vet dispensary must comply with the guidelines outlined in Guidance Document on the provision of e-veterinary dispensary services. The guidance utilizes key principles from existing guidelines and standards for the supply and delivery of medications for human patients and for e-pharmacies licensed by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), which have been adapted to the veterinary and animal sector in Singapore.
   
   These guidelines include but are not limited to aspects as below:
   

   (1)	IT security and integrity.
   (2)	Documentation and record maintenance.
   (3)	Proper handling and delivery of medications.
   (4)	Advertising standards.

   
   
5. Required Documents for Submission
   
   The e-vet dispensary will be required to complete the following document and submit for registration:
   

   (1)	Registration Form
   (2)	Statement of Declaration
   (3)	Supporting documents (e.g., copies of licenses)

   
   
6. Registration Fees
   
   There are no fees for registration.
   
   
7. Post-Registration Process
   
   Upon verification of the submitted documents, an AVS inspector will conduct an on-site inspection to assess the premises of the e-vet-dispensary. Once registered with AVS, the e-vet-dispensary will be added to the list of AVS-registered e-vet-dispensaries.
   
   
8. Internal Audit
   
   It is imperative to note that regular internal audits should be conducted to monitor the implementation of e-vet dispensary services for compliance with in-house written procedures, relevant guidance notes and legislative requirements. Corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) should be taken and followed up for continual improvement.
   

All the information and requirement are revised periodically and may be subject to change from time to time by the Singapore government authorities without prior notice. Please consult with Kaizen Consultants for more information.

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