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Senate passes bill to make certain ivermectin human formulations available over the counter
Summary
Senators passed SB 189 to allow over-the-counter sale of human-dosed ivermectin; sponsors said the measure would reduce dangerous use of veterinary formulations and make human-dosed products easier to obtain. The bill passed on a roll-call vote.
The Arkansas Senate on March 6 approved SB 189, a bill to allow over-the-counter sales of human-dosage ivermectin. Sponsor Senator Clark said the change would reduce use of concentrated veterinary products and make human-formulated ivermectin easier to obtain from pharmacies.
“Senate bill 189, allows for over the counter, sale of ivermectin,” Senator Clark said during floor debate. Clark acknowledged risks, saying, “I’m not gonna tell you that ivermectin can’t be dangerous,” and argued that making an approved human dose more widely available would be safer than people buying concentrated veterinary formulations from agricultural suppliers.
Lawmakers debated dosage, labeling and federal regulation. Several senators asked whether the bill would make ivermectin available on grocery-store shelves or whether the Food and Drug Administration would still control packaging and marketing. Senators were told the bill clears state-level obstacles but would not override FDA authority: how a manufacturer packages a drug for sale and whether ordinary retail shelves will carry it depends on federal approvals and manufacturers’ marketing decisions. Sponsor Clark said human-dosage products are already available by prescription and that Tennessee enacted a similar law two years earlier.
Pharmacists and other senators asked about potential drug interactions and appropriate labeling. Senator Boyd, a pharmacist who spoke in favor, said the bill “makes an important statement on how slow and political our federal government can be in responding to the will of the people” and argued that a regulated human product is safer than concentrated veterinary formulations being bought at feed stores.
Opponents and questioners pressed for clarity on packaging, recommended dosages and whether pharmacists would retain the ability to counsel customers. Senator Clark said the bill’s intent is to make human-dosed ivermectin available in properly labeled products intended for human use and that pharmacists would likely participate in counseling.
The Senate adopted SB 189 on a roll-call vote; the record shows 31 yeas and no recorded nays. The measure was ordered transmitted to the House.
