A measure that allows veterinarians to legally carry controlled substances to farm call sites has been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Passed by Congress in 1970, the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) is intended to prevent the unauthorized manufacture, sale, and transport of drugs that are most likely to be abused. Under the original law, veterinarians who carry drugs to in mobile veterinary units could be found in violation of the act.

Last year, congressmen Kurt Schrader (D-Oregon) and Ted Yoho (R-Florida) introduced HR 1528 also known as the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act, which would amend the CSA to allow licensed veterinarians who operate mobile clinics or who treat horses on farms and elsewhere to lawfully transport to and dispense controlled substances at treatment sites.

A twin bill, S 1171, introduced by senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), was passed by the full Senate in January