SAHPRA's Regulatory Barriers Threaten Wildlife Conservation and Animal Safety

Johannesburg, South Africa, November 2024 – V-Tech, a leading provider of pharmaceutical compounding services for veterinarians, is actively working to resolve key regulatory obstacles that jeopardise wildlife veterinary care. The seizure and destruction of Yohimbine —an essential substance used by veterinarians to reverse the effects of sedatives—has left the wildlife community struggling to conduct critical procedures safely. 

Yohimbine Seizure and Regulatory Reassessment

In March 2024, SAHPRA (South African Health Products Regulatory Authority) instructed Port Health to confiscate and destroy a consignment of Yohimbine that was vital for veterinarians. This unexpected move left veterinarians without an essential tool for managing animal sedations during game captures and other procedures, significantly hindering conservation efforts. 

Since this incident, V-Tech has taken the lead in advocating on behalf of the veterinary community. In response to V-Tech’s efforts, SAHPRA issued a public call on October 6, 2024, for scientific studies and stakeholder input to reassess the safety, efficacy, and therapeutic potential of Yohimbine in veterinary practice. This signals a shift in SAHPRA’s long-standing position on Yohimbine, offering a potential pathway to restoring access to the substance. 

However, V-Tech maintains that Yohimbine was never banned for veterinary use, as there is no evidence that the substance was ever formally gazetted for such a ban. V-Tech cautions that SAHPRA’s consultation process could be lengthy and calls for the immediate reinstatement of Yohimbine for veterinary use to avoid further disruptions to wildlife conservation. 

“Veterinarians need immediate access to Yohimbine to perform safe and effective wildlife procedures. Waiting for a drawn-out process will only exacerbate the challenges veterinarians are already facing,” said Dr. Johan Oosthuyse, CEO of V-Tech. 

Purported Benefits and Risks of Yohimbine

Yohimbine has been the subject of extensive research, with documented use in human medicine. Concerns about its potential misuse, particularly as an aphrodisiac, led to restrictions on Yohimbine for human use during a Medicines Control Council (MCC) meeting in December 1978. The MCC classified it as a banned substance under the Medicines and Related Substances Act, 101 of 1965 (as amended in 1979). However, the decision to ban Yohimbine was never gazetted, raising questions about its applicability to veterinary medicine, which only became regulated in 1979. 

Despite these historical concerns, new evidence supports Yohimbine’s therapeutic potential. Beyond its critical use in reversing sedation in wildlife, Yohimbine has also shown effectiveness as an antidote for cattle dip poisoning. V-Tech underscores the urgent need for access to this medication, particularly during South Africa’s game capture season, when veterinarians rely heavily on it for animal relocations. 

“The lack of Yohimbine is putting wildlife at risk and hampering essential conservation efforts. We are working tirelessly with stakeholders and regulatory authorities to ensure veterinarians have the tools they need to provide the highest standard of care,” added Dr. Oosthuyse. 

Advocating for Veterinarians and Conservation Efforts

V-Tech remains committed to supporting veterinarians by actively engaging with SAHPRA and other regulatory bodies to restore access to essential medicines. A formal dispute on the matter has been file with the Minister of Health who appointed an appeal committee to investigate the Yohimbine case. V-Tech, the Wildlife Ranching South Africa and the South African Veterinary Association (SAVA) will continue to push for urgent solution to ensure veterinarians can safely and effectively care for wildlife without unnecessary regulatory delays.