Pet Medications Workshop

Pet Medications Workshop


The Federal Trade Commission will host a one-day public workshop on October 2, 2012, to examine competition and consumer protection issues in the pet medications industry.  The quality and cost of pet medications is an important pocketbook issue for many consumers.  In 2011, 62 percent of U.S. households owned a pet, and Americans spent an estimated $50 billion on their pets, including nearly $7 billion for prescription and over-the-counter pet medications. 

The workshop will bring together consumers, veterinarians, business representatives, economists, lawyers, academics, and other interested parties to consider how current industry distribution and other business practices affect consumer choice and price competition for pet medications; the ability of consumers to obtain written, portable prescriptions that they can fill wherever they choose; and the ability of consumers to verify the safety and efficacy of pet medications that they purchase.  The workshop will examine ways to inform and empower consumers to obtain the highest quality and most cost-effective healthcare products for their pets.  The workshop will also examine the extent to which recent changes to restricted distribution and prescription portability practices in the contact lens industry might yield lessons applicable to the pet medications industry. 

The workshop will be free and open to the public.  No pre-registration is required. Public comments will be accepted through November 1, 2012.

For more information about competition and consumer protection issues in the market for pet medications, listen to this short podcast with FTC staff.


(download: mp3) (transcript)

Event Details

About the FTC Conference Center

WHERE:

FTC Conference Center
601 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001

VENUE INFORMATION:

FTC Conference Center

WRITTEN COMMENTS OR STATEMENTS FOR DISCUSSION AT THE WORKSHOP

The Commission invites interested persons to submit written comments on issues related to this workshop. All comments in response to the Federal Register Notice are due by November 1, 2012.

Comments should be captioned “Pet Medications Workshop, Project No. P12-1201” and submitted according to the instructions below.

To File Electronically:

Comments filed in electronic form should be submitted by using the following weblink:  https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/petmedsworkshop and following the instructions on the web-based form. 

To File in Paper Form:

A comment filed in paper form should include “Pet Medications Workshop, Project No. P12-1201” both in the text and on the envelope, and mail or deliver two copies to the following address:

Federal Trade Commission/Office of the Secretary
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Room H-113 (Annex X)
Washington, DC 20580

Because postal mail in the Washington area and at the Commission is subject to delay, please consider submitting your comments in electronic form, as described above. The FTC requests that you send any comment by courier or overnight service, if possible.

To Request Confidential Treatment:

Comments containing material for which confidential treatment is requested must be filed in paper form, must be clearly labeled “Confidential,” and must comply with Commission Rule 4.9(c).  Comments should not include any sensitive personal information, such as an individual’s Social Security Number; date of birth; driver’s license number or other state identification number or foreign country equivalent; passport number; financial account number; or credit or debit card number.  Comments also should not include any sensitive health information, such as medical records and other individually identifiable health information.

FTC PRIVACY POLICY

For additional information, including routine uses permitted by the Privacy Act, see the Commission's comprehensive Privacy Policy.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS

The Conference Center is accessible to people with disabilities. If you need an accommodation related to a disability, please contact Samantha Kondstandt at skonstandt@ftc.gov or 202-326-3348. Such requests should include a detailed description of the accommodations needed and a way to contact you if we need more information. Please provide advance notice.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Stephanie Wilkinson (Conference Organizer)
Office of Policy Planning
petmedsworkshop@ftc.gov
202-326-2084