Cargo Systems Messaging Service

CSMS #49330998 - FDA Warns Brokers to Not Import Animal Ivermectin to Prevent or Treat COVID-19

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) Office of Enforcement and Import Operations (OEIO) is working to partner with government agencies to address supply chain interruptions of imported Ivermectin. Currently, Stromectol (Ivermectin) is being imported for use as a COVID-19 treatment in humans.  

Recent news stories and a Health Alert published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that poison control centers across the United States are seeing a sharp spike in reports of people suffering adverse health effects after taking ivermectin intended for animals. FDA/OEIO is asking for the assistance of the import community with preventing the importation of animal ivermectin for use in humans. We are asking you to help us educate importers and consumers regarding the health consequences of using animal ivermectin, and to report any suspicious attempt to import Ivermectin/Stromectol to FDA-COVID-19-Fraudulent-Products@fda.hhs.gov .

FDA’s highest priority is protecting public health. Our mission is to ensure the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and to ensure the safety of our nation's food and cosmetics supply, as well as products that emit radiation. FDA has been and continues to be at the forefront of the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently, FDA has been conducting outreach to our partners and consumers alike regarding the dangerous consequences of the misuse of animal ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment in humans.

FDA has posted numerous articles on FDA.gov warning of the potential adverse health consequences from using animal ivermectin, including the August 30, 2021 letter issued by FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) “CVM Letter to Veterinarians and Retailers: Help Stop Misuse of Animal Ivermectin to Prevent or Treat COVID-19 in Humans” and a Safety Alert sign for veterinarians and retailers of animal products to use in their businesses. We encourage you to provide these materials to any of your clients seeking to import animal ivermectin.

We thank you in advance for your help in protecting public health by preventing the importation of animal ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment for humans.