In a recent development, a vital consignment of Yohimbine, a substance essential for preparing antidotes to sedatives used by wildlife veterinarians, was seized and destroyed by Port Health following instructions from SAHPRA. This action has left the wildlife industry facing significant challenges.
V-Tech, a prominent South African company providing pharmaceutical compounding services to veterinarians, found itself in a predicament when its shipment of Yohimbine was detained by Port Health. While V-Tech engaged in discussions with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) regarding the validity of the detention, Port Health proceeded to destroy the shipment, claiming it to be a banned substance, leaving V-Tech and the wider veterinary community dismayed.
Dr. Johan Oosthuyse, CEO of V-Tech, expressed his disappointment with the handling of the situation, particularly considering the ongoing discussions with SAHPRA regarding the embargo’s validity. He emphasised the critical role Yohimbine plays in ensuring the safety and well-being of wildlife during immobilization procedures.
“For the past six years, we have depended on Yohimbine to create a vital antidote necessary for reversing the effects of sedatives utilized in capturing wild animals,” Dr. Oosthuyse emphasised. “The lack of access to Yohimbine not only endangers the lives of valuable wildlife but also severely undermines our ability to conduct essential veterinary procedures. It is disheartening to experience the lack of appreciation displayed by SAHPRA regarding veterinarians’ crucial need for access to medications, especially those not commonly used in human medicine.”
Yohimbine, once used in cosmetics in the 1970’s, was rejected for use in human medicine by the erstwhile MCC (predecessor of SAHPRA) due to its misuse as an aphrodisiac. Despite ongoing discussions between V-Tech and SAHPRA regarding the applicability of the MCC’s rejection of the use of Yoimbine, to veterinary medicine, Port Health, acting under the instructions of SAHPRA, impulsively took drastic action, resulting in the destruction of the consignment of Yohimbine. This took place without SAHPRA and Port Health affording V-Tech the opportunity to be heard regarding the decision to destroy the consignment and without any statutory or regulatory basis for such destruction.
Dr. Oosthuyse highlighted that this was not the first time Port Health and SAHPRA ‘s actions have hindered veterinarians’ ability to treat animals effectively. In a similar incident during October 2023, V-Tech was compelled to resort to legal action on behalf of veterinarians when another critical substance, Trilostane, an unscheduled substance, was confiscated by Port Health and eventually released.
In light of these developments, V-Tech’s legal team is urgently seeking a resolution to the Yohimbine dispute. With the main game capture season underway, it is imperative that veterinarians have unhindered access to veterinary medicines for safely relocating wild animals.
