Veterinary Medical Board webinar warns veterinarians about misbranding, details inspection authority and storage rules

The Veterinary Medical Board used a statewide webinar to review what constitutes a misbranded drug, how board inspectors conduct premises inspections and where veterinarians can find inspection resources.

Patty, Veterinary Medical Board staff, said, “Protection of the public is the board's highest priority,” and framed inspections as primarily educational while underscoring that the board has statutory authority to inspect records, equipment and drugs during investigations.

The webinar, led by Dr. Jim Howard, board consultant and inspector, and Dr. Christina Costa, supervising inspector with the California State Board of Pharmacy, focused on examples the boards see on inspections and on points of legal risk for veterinarians. “Misbranding can be very serious, and it can have some huge consequences,” Dr. Howard told attendees, and Dr. Costa added that an NDC (National Drug Code) on a label “doesn't mean that they're approved,” a common source of confusion.

Why it matters

Speakers said misbranding violations can trigger administrative discipline, criminal penalties and large civil fines when products are knowingly or unknowingly introduced into commerce. Webinar presenters cited recent enforcement examples (including a distributor enforcement action that resulted in a multimillion‑dollar penalty) to show the range of possible outcomes.

Key inspection and legal points

- Inspection authority and purpose: The board may inspect any location where veterinary medicine is practiced; inspections may be routine and scheduled or unannounced…