Competition & Consumer Protection Issues in the 

Pet Medications Industry

8:45am – 9:00am Opening Remarks Jon Leibowitz, Chairman 

Federal Trade Commission

9:00am – 9:15am Workshop Framing Remarks Stephanie A. Wilkinson, Attorney Advisor

Offi ce of Policy Planning

Federal Trade Commission

9:15am – 9:45am Introductory Presentations

Overview of the Veterinary Profession Dr. Douglas G. Aspros, DVM, President 

American Veterinary Medical Association 

(AVMA) and Companion Animal Practitioner

Overview of the Pet Medications 

Industry

Dr. Paul D. Pion, DVM

 President and Co-Founder

 Veterinary Information Network (VIN)

9:45am – 10:00am Break

10:00am – 11:45am Distribution of Pet Medications

Discussion of current industry distribution practices for pet medications, including vertical 

restrictions imposed by manufacturers and the emergence of a secondary distribution system, 

and how these practices aff ect consumer choice and price competition for over-the-counter and 

prescription pet medications. Discussion of whether consumers can adequately verify the safety and 

effi cacy of products purchased from non-veterinary retailers and pharmacies.

Panel Discussion

Moderators: Stephanie A. Wilkinson and Elizabeth A. Jex, Offi ce of Policy Planning

Panelists: Andrew J. Bane, Ph.D.

Chief Operations Offi cer, VetSource

Mark Cushing, Partner, Tonkon Torp LLP 

Representing the American Veterinary 

Distributors Association (AVDA)

Brad Dayton, Senior Director of Pharmacy 

Ahold USA

Agenda

Tuesday, October 2, 2012 1
Agenda

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Michael H. Hinckle, Partner, K&L Gates LLP

Gregg Jones, Compliance Manager, National 

Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP)

David G. Miller, Chief Executive Offi cer 

International Academy of Compounding 

Pharmacists (IACP)

Dr. Paul D. Pion, DVM

President and Co-Founder, VIN

John Powers, Executive Vice President

Drs. Foster & Smith

Nate Smith, Vice President of Business 

Development, NuSkin Enterprises

Clinton Vranian, Vice President and General 

Counsel, Novartis Animal Health

11:45am – 1:00pm Lunch

1:00pm – 2:45pm Portability of Prescription Pet Medications

Discussion of consumers’ ability to obtain written, portable copies of their pet medication 

prescriptions, and whether pending federal legislation, H.R. 1406, Fairness to Pet Owners Act, 

is necessary for the further development of a competitive marketplace. Discussion of potential 

consumer savings opportunities that may result if legislation is passed, as well as the legislation’s 

potential impact on veterinary practices.

Introductory Presentation Mr. Adrian Hochstadt, Assistant Director 

AVMA State Legislative and Regulatory Aff airs

Panel Discussion

Moderators: Tara Isa Koslov and Christopher M. Grengs, Offi ce of Policy Planning

Panelists: Dr. Douglas G. Aspros, President, AVMA and 

Companion Animal Practitioner

Dr. Elaine Blythe, PharmD

Associate Professor

St. Matthews School of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Race Foster, DVM, Co-owner 

Drs. Foster & Smith

Dr. Wendy Hauser, DVM 

Coal Creek Veterinary Hospital

Michael H. Hinckle, Partner, K&L Gates LLP

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AgendA

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Deborah Dubow Press, Regulatory Aff airs 

Manager, American Society for the Prevention 

of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)

Nate Smith, Vice President of Business 

Development, NuSkin Enterprises

2:45pm – 3:00pm Break

3:00pm – 4:30pm Lessons Learned from the Contact Lens Industry

Discussion about the impact of the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act and the elimination 

of restricted distribution practices for contact lenses. Discussion of the similarities and diff erences 

between the contact lens and pet medication industries, and the degree to which the evolution of the 

contact lens industry provides a reliable basis for predicting the potential consumer cost savings and 

non-price benefi ts that might result from eliminating vertical restrictions for the distribution of pet 

medications and empowering pet owners with prescription portability.

Introductory Presentation Sydney Knight, Attorney 

Division of Advertising Practices 

Federal Trade Commission

Panel Discussion

Moderators: Joel L. Schrag, Bureau of Economics, and Daniel J. Gilman, Offi ce of Policy Planning

Panelists: Robert D. Atkinson, President, Information 

Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF)

James C. Cooper, Director Research and Policy 

Law & Economics Center

George Mason University School of Law

Robert L. Hubbard, Assistant Attorney General 

Antitrust Bureau

New York Attorney General’s Offi ce

Kent D. McClure, General Counsel

Animal Health Institute (AHI)

Dr. Clarke D. Newman, Representative of the 

American Optometric Association (AOA)

Dr. Link Welborn, DVM, Chair

AVMA Veterinary Economics Strategy 

Committee

R. Joe Zeidner, General Counsel, 

1-800-Contacts

4:30pm – 4:45pm Closing Remarks Andrew I. Gavil, Director, Offi ce of Policy 

Planning, Federal Trade Commission

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