Three months after national regulators’ associations approved model rules for a proposed national medication policy, the task of lobbying jurisdictions to adopt them continues.

The Association of Racing Commissioners International and the North American Pari-Mutuel Regulators’ Association approved the model rules April 3 during a joint convention in New Orleans. The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium policy in part calls for voluntary use of Salix on race days and use of one of three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs no later than 24 hours before a race.

Regulators met to review the proposal in Tucson, Ariz., last December, and then offered input that was included before the model rules were drawn up.

“We’ve moved into a different phase with (the policy),” said Dr. Scot Waterman, executive director of the consortium. “We’re obviously working on getting model rules adopted state by state, which is a lengthy process. Every state is different in terms of public comment periods, hearings, and meetings