A Civil Guard investigation has been opened against 13 individuals across the Alicante and Valencia provinces for the sale of uncontrolled veterinary drugs in pet stores, animal farms, and zoos. The core players in this fraudulent operation used a method described as the “reverse prescription.” The key figures include directors of a company, a veterinarian, and a pharmacist, all based in Valencia.
During raids, authorities seized 200 doses of veterinary medication that required a veterinary prescription, prepared for supply to veterinarians, along with 2,850 veterinary prescriptions and related documents that are currently under analysis. Within the investigation, 11 men and 2 women, aged 43 to 72, have been charged with document falsification and crimes against public health and organized crime, according to their degree of participation.
The Nature Conservation Service of the Alicante Civil Guard (Seprona) began its inquiry in April of the previous year after a report from the Alicante Official Veterinary College about a store selling animal feed in Marina Alta that was not authorized to distribute veterinary medicines and operated without proper controls.
Investigators found that a retailer authorized to market veterinary medicines in Valencia’s l’Horta Sur area used the so-called “reverse prescription” to sell these health products. This practice applies to veterinary medicines that normally require a prescription, which is issued at the request of customers rather than following a prior clinical examination of an animal.
Through this scheme, sales and profits increased, as a veterinarian in the Valencia area allegedly issued prescriptions without performing a physical examination of the animal, thereby overlooking the animal’s health status.
Danger
The entire framework posed risks to animals and to potential human consumers of meat products, since some animals were destined for human consumption. According to the Civil Guard, the ringleader coordinated the operation and coordinated the advertising of a retail outlet, with a trusted veterinarian using fake codes. Farms, with or without registration in the General Register of Livestock Farms (REGA), generated the relevant veterinary prescriptions. A woman was also involved, along with a pharmaceutical company that reportedly neglected its legally mandated control duties. In addition to these three individuals, the Civil Guard investigated ten small-business managers in several municipalities including Pedreguer, Pego, Teulada, Alcanalí and Dénia, as well as Valencia, Oliva, Aielo de Malferit, La Pobla de Vallbona, Canals, and Turís.
The company involved was registered, and Seprona conducted about twenty inspections in Marina Alta and other Valencia-based subsidiaries during the first half of February. The businesses primarily deal in the sale of animal feed, operation of animal farms, and management of zoos.
Forensic investigations are recorded under Court Order No. 1 of the Court of First Instance in Dénia. The operation was carried out through close cooperation between the Ministry of the Interior and the Generalitat Valenciana, with collaboration from the Health Pharmacy Inspection Area and the Ministry of Production and Health Department Animals, along with faculties of Agriculture and Veterinary Colleges in Valencia and Alicante. This cooperation extended to the Valencia and Alicante veterinary faculties to support the proceedings and ensure veterinary standards were properly reviewed. [citation attribution: Civil Guard report and regional health authorities]