Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Drug Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission hears briefing on international ban on bisphosphonates and Minnesota practice
Summary
Commissioners discussed the international ban on bisphosphonates in racehorses and Minnesota’s prior prohibition; speakers warned use in young horses can impair bone remodeling and increase breakdown risk.
Commissioners discussed an international ban on bisphosphonates and Minnesota’s prior prohibition on the drug during the Feb. 20 meeting.
A presenter explained that bisphosphonates are indicated for certain veterinary conditions but were being used in some young horses to accelerate growth, producing larger-looking animals whose microscopic bone structure was weaker because normal remodeling was suppressed. The presenter said that practice was associated with higher breakdown rates on tracks and that Minnesota had moved earlier to prohibit bisphosphonate use in racehorses. The packet includes a statement from Longines announcing a total ban effective Jan. 1, 2017; the meeting speaker called the international statement a “big step forward.”
Commissioners were given a brief written blurb in the packet and were referred to Dr. Tabitha (named in the packet) for technical questions. No commission rulemaking or new state-level regulation was proposed during the discussion; the item was informational.
Ending: Commissioners flagged the ban as important to integrity and safety and moved on to other agenda items.
