- The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act has advanced as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.
- The legislation would classify xylazine as a Schedule III controlled substance while preserving its approved veterinary uses.
- More than 70 veterinary, livestock and research organizations support the bill.
- The AVMA said the measure protects access to xylazine for veterinary medicine and military animal care.
Veterinary organizations are backing the bipartisan Combating Illicit Xylazine Act after it was included in a legislative package attached to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The legislation would classify illicit xylazine as a Schedule III controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act while preserving access to the sedative for approved veterinary uses. Xylazine is widely used in large animal medicine for sedation, anesthesia and pain management.
According to supporters, the bill is endorsed by more than 70 veterinary organizations, livestock groups and research organizations, alongside numerous law enforcement associations.
“The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act addresses the national security and public health threat posed by illicit xylazine while preserving veterinary access to the legitimate animal drug for its critical uses by the military and our profession,” said American Veterinary Medical Association President Dr. Michael Q. Bailey.
Bailey added that maintaining access to xylazine is important for federally funded research and the care and handling of U.S. military horses, warning that disruptions to the veterinary supply could affect both animal welfare and ongoing scientific studies.
The legislation was introduced by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and is intended to address the growing illicit use of xylazine while ensuring veterinarians retain access to the medication for legitimate clinical and research purposes.
Information sourced from the company’s press release.
