Updated: 1 August 2022
Issued: October 2015
Injectable products containing formaldehyde are totally banned in racing, whether for in- or out-of-competition use, and their presence in a racing stable would constitute an offence under AR 252 and AR 256.
There is no screening limit or threshold for formaldehyde.
Racing Victoria Stewards are aware of the existence of compounded injectable products for horses containing the substance formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde is a prohibited substance under the Rules of Racing.
Formaldehyde is known to be toxic and potentially carcinogenic when given by injection, raising serious welfare concerns for horses administered formaldehyde by injection.
There are no Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority-registered veterinary products for injection that contain formaldehyde as their principal active ingredient. A compounding pharmacy has produced an injectable product containing 10% formaldehyde for use in horses.
Other unregistered injectable veterinary products such as Bio-Bleeder and Kentucky Green have been found to contain formaldehyde and other aldehydes.
Race day and out-of-competition samples are tested for the presence of formaldehyde.
Serious penalties will apply to the finding of formaldehyde-containing products in a racing stable, or the detection of formaldehyde in a sample taken from a horse on race day.
Furthermore, trainers are again warned of the dangers of having on their premises and using on their horses any unregistered products (AR 252, AR 256), particularly those for injection. Many of these products are not properly labelled, do not list their active ingredients, and may be contaminated with other prohibited substances, including those listed in Schedule 1, Part 1 Substances Prohibited at All Times, Division 1 Prohibited List A of the Rules of Racing.
Relevant Rules of Racing
AR 252 Possession of medication/substance/preparation in breach of legislation 162 (1) A person must not have in his or her possession or on his or her premises any medication, substance or preparation which has not been registered, labelled, prescribed, dispensed or obtained in accordance with applicable Commonwealth and State legislation.
(2) The Stewards may confiscate any medication, substance or preparation referred to in subrule (1), and use it as evidence in any inquiry, hearing or other proceeding under the Rules.
Division 8 – Supply and procurement offences
AR 256 – Prohibition on supply and procurement of certain substances/preparations
(1) A person must not:
(a) supply;
(b) attempt to supply; or
(c) be a party to the supply or attempted supply of, any substance or preparation to another person (including but not limited to, a trainer or any person on behalf of a trainer), which is:
(i) a prohibited substance on Prohibited List A;
(ii) a substance or preparation containing a prohibited substance on Prohibited List A; or
(iii) a substance or preparation that is not permitted to be in a person’s possession or on a person’s premises in accordance with AR 252(1).
(2) A person must not:
(a) procure;
(b) attempt to procure; or
(c) be a party to the procuring or attempted procuring of, any of the following:
(i) a prohibited substance on Prohibited List A;
(ii) a substance or preparation containing a prohibited substance on Prohibited List A; or
(iii) a substance or preparation that is not permitted to be in a person’s possession or on a person’s premises in accordance with AR 252(1).
(3) For the purposes of this rule:
(a) “supply” includes the selling, giving, transporting, sending, delivering or distributing (or possessing for any such purpose) of a substance or preparation;
(b) “procure” includes the purchase and/or receipt of a substance or preparation.