�detention without physical examination of ***animal drugs which are subject to human diversion/misuse�***

Why FDA issued it

NOTE: The revision of this Import Alert dated 3/4/2026 updates the import alert title, reason for alert, guidance, product description, product codes and charge codes. Changes are bracketed by asterisks (***). ***Certain animal drugs have established uses in veterinary medicine but present risks for diversion to human use (primarily diversion to the illicit drug supply) and/or misuse by humans. Unless otherwise specified, this import alert applies to drugs containing the following active moieties: - Xylazine (including xylazine hydrochloride), including APIs and drug products - Medetomidine (including medetomidine hydrochloride), including APIs and drug products. Xylazine: Xylazine (and xylazine hydrochloride) is a non-opioid agent that is the active ingredient in an animal drug which FDA originally approved in 1972 as a sedative and analgesic. It is used in many different animal species

Quoted from the “Reason for Alert” section of the FDA page for 68-20, mirrored 30 August 2026. The quotation is truncated at the length this copy carries.