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FOI release

FOI2026/00341 – Diversion of Veterinary Sedatives into Illicit Drug Supply

Published 22 May 2026

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vmd-foieir-requests-february-2026/foi202600341-diversion-of-veterinary-sedatives-into-illicit-drug-supply

Your request

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I request the following information for the period 1 January 2023 to present:

  1. The number of reports received by the VMD of suspected diversion of xylazine and/or medetomidine from legitimate veterinary supply chains.
  2. Any investigations conducted by the VMD into theft, loss, or suspected diversion of xylazine or medetomidine from veterinary practices, wholesalers, or manufacturers.
  3. Any intelligence, risk assessments, or guidance issued by the VMD concerning the potential for veterinary sedatives to be diverted into illicit human drug markets.
  4. Any regulatory actions taken (warnings, suspensions, prosecutions) involving xylazine or medetomidine supply chain security.
  5. Import data: the total quantity of xylazine and medetomidine imported into the UK for veterinary use in each year since 2023.

Our reply

  1. The VMD has not received any reports of suspected diversion of veterinary medicines containing xylazine or medetomidine from legitimate veterinary supply chains during the period requested.

  2. We have not conducted any investigations relating to the theft, loss, or suspected diversion of veterinary medicines containing xylazine or medetomidine within the timeframe specified.
  3. The VMD has participated in meetings with other agencies to discuss the potential risks of veterinary medicines, including those containing xylazine, being diverted into illicit human drug markets. As part of these discussions, a list of veterinary medicines containing xylazine was shared. No further intelligence products, risk assessments, or formal guidance documents have been issued.
  4. We have not taken any regulatory action, such as issuing warnings, suspensions, or pursuing prosecutions, in relation to supply chain security for veterinary medicines containing xylazine or medetomidine during the period requested.
  5. The VMD does not regulate, monitor, or collect data on the supply, distribution, usage, or volumes of veterinary medicines once they have been authorised. We therefore do not hold information on the quantities of xylazine or medetomidine imported into the UK for veterinary use.

The only import-related data held by the VMD concerns the Special Import Scheme. This is a national scheme available solely to UK veterinary surgeons, wholesalers, and Animal (Scientific Procedure) Act (ASPA) license holders who need to import a medicine where no suitable UK authorised product exists. This may be because a UK authorised product is temporarily unavailable due to a shortage, or because no product is authorised for the specific condition or species.

Below is a summary of the volumes stated on Special Import Certificates (SICs) for products containing the two specified active substances. Please note that these figures represent the quantities cited on certificates and do not reflect the actual amounts imported or used in the UK, as the VMD does not collect usage data.

Total volume cited on SICs for products containing the active, medetomidine Total volume cited on SICs for products containing the active, xylazine
2023 270 ml 0 ml
2024 315 ml 0 ml
2025 582 ml 0 ml
2026 (up to 11/03/26) 20 ml 13,800 ml
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