H.R. 1607 – Fairness to Pet Owners Act of 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 2:42 AM UTC

The Fairness to Pet Owners Act of 2019 aims to increase competition and lower costs for pet owners by ensuring they can obtain copies of veterinary prescriptions without restrictions. It requires the Federal Trade Commission to create rules that give pet owners the right to receive their prescription, including electronically, and prohibits veterinarians from forcing a purchase, extra fees, or liability waivers as a condition for providing the prescription. The law applies to prescription drugs for domesticated household animals.

Key Provisions

The FTC must issue rules, within 180 days, guaranteeing pet owners the right to receive a copy of a veterinary prescription without having to ask for it.
Prescriptions can be provided electronically or by other means, and pet owners can request electronic delivery consistent with state law.
Veterinarians may not require pet owners to buy the prescribed drug, pay extra fees, or sign liability waivers in order to receive or verify the prescription copy.
Veterinarians may still charge for an examination, but only if payment is required immediately when the exam shows no drug is needed.
Violations of these rules are treated as unfair or deceptive practices under the FTC Act, giving the FTC enforcement authority.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee

March 8, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 7, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

March 7, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee

March 8, 2019

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 1607 on the floor

1 Democrat

Rep. Jefferson Van DrewD-NJ-2 · Jun 13, 2019

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my sponsorship in the Fairness to Pet Owners Act, H.R. 1607.

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 7, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1607

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 7, 2019

Mr. Cartwright (for himself, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Collins of New York, and Mr. Bishop of Utah) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To promote competition and help consumers save money by giving them the freedom to choose where they buy prescription pet medications, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Fairness to Pet Owners Act of 2019.

2.

Applicability

This Act shall only apply to medication for a domesticated household animal that the Federal Government bars consumers from purchasing without a prescription.

3.

Pet owner rights to copies of veterinary prescriptions

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Trade Commission shall promulgate rules in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code, that include the following requirements with regard to a veterinary prescription:

(1)

In general

A requirement that establishes the rights of pet owners prescribed an animal drug to receive a copy of the veterinary prescription, without having to request a copy.

(2)

Electronic option

The rights provided for in paragraph (1)—

(A)

may be satisfied by receipt of the prescription by electronic or other means; and

(B)

shall include the right to have a copy of the prescription provided by electronic or other means consistent with applicable State law, if requested by a pharmacy or any other person designated to act on behalf of the pet owner.

(3)

Purchase, payment, and waiver

A requirement that the prescriber of an animal drug—

(A)

may not—

(i)

require purchase of the animal drug for which the veterinary prescription was written from the prescriber or from another person as a condition of providing a copy of the veterinary prescription or verifying such prescription under paragraph (1);

(ii)

require payment in addition to, or as part of, the fee for an examination and evaluation as a condition of providing a copy of the veterinary prescription or verifying such prescription under paragraph (1); or

(iii)

require the pet owner to sign a waiver or disclaim liability, or deliver to the pet owner a notice waiving or disclaiming liability of the prescriber for the accuracy of the veterinary prescription, as a condition of providing a copy of such prescription or verifying such prescription under paragraph (1); and

(B)

may require payment of fees for an examination and evaluation before providing a veterinary prescription, but only if the prescriber requires immediate payment in the case of an examination that reveals no requirement for an animal drug.

4.

Enforcement

A violation of a rule prescribed pursuant to section 3 of this Act shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)). The Federal Trade Commission shall enforce this Act in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act were incorporated into and made a part of this Act.

5.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Animal drug

The term animal drug means a drug intended to be administered to an animal that may not be dispensed without a prescription.

(2)

Domesticated household animal

The term domesticated household animal means a companion animal permitted under applicable State and local law to be kept in a home for noncommercial purposes.

(3)

Pet owner

The term pet owner means the legal owner of a domesticated household animal or a person designated by such owner to present such animal to the prescriber for care.

(4)

Prescriber

The term prescriber means a health care practitioner who is licensed to practice veterinary medicine or other person permitted under State law to issue prescriptions for animal drugs.

(5)

Veterinary prescription

The term veterinary prescription—

(A)

means a written, oral, or electronic order from a prescriber authorizing the dispensing of an animal drug for use by a domesticated household animal and normally administered to the animal by its owner, issued in accordance with State and Federal law; and

(B)

does not include an animal drug administered by the veterinarian in the course of providing acute care.