This Privacy Policy explains how Pets Best Consultancy Inc. (registered in the Republic of South Africa, publishing as “Best Pet Apps” on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, owner and operator of FormuVet) (“FormuVet”, “Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) collects, uses, stores, protects, shares, and processes personal data and clinical record metadata when you access, download, install, or use the FormuVet mobile application, desktop software, website (www.formuvet.com), and related digital tools, services, and artificial intelligence features (collectively, the “App” or “Service”).

1. Purpose, Scope & Legal Framework

This Privacy Policy applies to registered account holders, subscribers, trial users, administrators, and visitors. We are committed to processing personal data in strict compliance with applicable data protection laws, including the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”) of South Africa, the General Data Protection Regulation (EU/UK GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CCPA/CPRA), and Apple App Store and Google Play Developer Data Safety mandates.

2. Categories of Information We Collect

Depending on your use of the App, we collect the following categories of data:

• Account and Identity Information: Your full name, professional title (e.g., Veterinarian, Veterinary Technician, Nurse, Student), veterinary clinic or hospital name, email address, username, profile photo URL (where provided via Google or Apple authentication), and encrypted authentication tokens.
• Technical, Device & Diagnostic Data: IP address, operating system and version, device model and unique hardware/installation identifiers, browser user-agent, app version, time zone, system language, crash telemetry logs (collected via Firebase Crashlytics), diagnostic stack traces, and non-sensitive interface interaction events.
• Subscription & Transaction Metadata: Subscription tier, status, entitlement identifiers, expiration dates, renewal events, and anonymous transaction identifiers. All financial transactions and in-app purchases are handled directly by Apple (App Store), Google (Play Store), or RevenueCat under the publisher account Best Pet Apps. FormuVet does not receive, process, or store raw credit card numbers or banking credentials.
• Clinical Reference, Case & Patient Metadata: Animal patient signalment (species, breed, estimated or measured body weight, age, sex, neuter status), selected drug calculations, fluid infusion parameters, custom protocol notes, and saved patient files. Notice to Clinicians: You agree not to enter sensitive, identifiable personal data belonging to human pet owners or clients (such as government IDs, credit card numbers, or human health records) into free-text clinical fields.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Queries & Interaction Data: Text prompts, queries, clinical search parameters, clinical summaries, and feedback submitted when utilizing FormuVet’s AI-assisted evidence and decision-support features.
• Support & Communications: Messages, support inquiries, error reports, and user feedback sent directly to our customer support or development teams.

3. Lawful Bases and Purposes for Processing Data

We process personal and technical data for specific, lawful purposes under applicable data protection laws (including Section 11 of POPIA and Article 6 of GDPR):

• Performance of Contract: To provision your user account, authenticate access, compute veterinary dosages, synchronize saved patient files across devices, and manage your subscription entitlements.
• Legitimate Interests: To monitor application stability, detect and resolve software bugs, prevent fraudulent activity, safeguard infrastructure security, and analyze non-personally identifiable usage trends to improve formulary accuracy.
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance: To comply with applicable accounting, tax, commercial, and statutory obligations, or to respond to valid lawful inquiries from regulatory authorities.
• Consent: Where required by law, we obtain your explicit consent prior to processing optional telemetry, initiating certain AI interactions, or sending informational communications. You may withdraw consent at any time.

4. How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Features Process Data

FormuVet incorporates artificial intelligence models (including Google Cloud Generative AI / Gemini APIs) to provide rapid clinical evidence search, protocol summarization, and decision-support assistance. When you invoke AI-powered tools:

• Your prompts, clinical query parameters, and selected drug context are transmitted securely to contracted model-hosting infrastructure solely for the purpose of real-time query inference and response generation.
• We do not sell your clinical data, prompts, or patient notes to third parties, nor do we utilize user-submitted clinical prompts to train public foundation models without explicit affirmative authorization.
• AI-generated outputs are probabilistic and assistive only. They do not constitute veterinary medical diagnosis and must be independently verified by a licensed veterinarian.

5. Subprocessors and Third-Party Disclosures

We do not sell, rent, or monetize your personal data. We disclose data solely to vetted third-party service providers (subprocessors) bound by strict data processing and confidentiality agreements:

• Google Firebase (Google LLC): Authentication (Firebase Auth), encrypted cloud database storage (Cloud Firestore), and crash diagnostics (Firebase Crashlytics).
• Google Cloud Platform (Google LLC): Cloud infrastructure hosting and generative AI model inference.
• RevenueCat (RevenueCat, Inc.): Mobile subscription infrastructure, entitlement management, and receipt validation.
• Apple Inc. & Google LLC: In-app purchase processing, identity authorization (Sign in with Apple, Google Sign-In), and platform distribution under Best Pet Apps.
• Legal & Safety Compliance: When required by law, court order, subpoena, or to protect the vital safety, property, or legal rights of Pets Best Consultancy Inc., FormuVet, our users, or the public.

6. International Data Transfers & Storage Security

FormuVet operates globally. Your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in secure cloud data centers located in the United States, the European Union, South Africa, and other jurisdictions. Where personal data originates in South Africa, the EEA, UK, or Switzerland and is transferred abroad, we ensure appropriate legal safeguards are maintained in compliance with Section 72 of POPIA and GDPR Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs).

We implement rigorous technical and organizational security controls, including TLS 1.3 encryption in transit, AES-256 encryption at rest, tokenized session access, least-privilege administrative access controls, and automated dependency security monitoring. However, no digital transmission or electronic storage method can guarantee absolute, impenetrable security.

7. Data Retention & Deletion Lifecycle

We retain your account data and saved patient records only for as long as your account remains active and as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, comply with legal requirements, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Technical crash telemetry is retained on standard rolling cycles (up to 180 days) before automated purging.

8. Account Deletion (Instant In-App & Web Request)

You have the absolute right to delete your account and all associated personal data at any time through either of the following mechanisms:

• Instant In-App Deletion: Open the App, navigate to Settings → Account Settings → Delete Account, and confirm your request. This immediately and permanently deletes your Firestore account record, saved patients, custom medications, and user credentials.
• Verified Web Request Form: You may submit an online request via our Account & Data Deletion Request Form. Web deletion requests are verified and permanently executed across all systems within seven (7) business days.

Note on Active Subscriptions: Deleting your FormuVet account does not automatically cancel an active subscription managed by Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Subscriptions must be cancelled directly in your device’s Apple ID or Google Play account settings.

9. Your Legal Privacy Rights

Under POPIA, GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, and applicable international privacy laws, you are entitled to exercise statutory data protection rights, including:

• Access & Portability: The right to request confirmation of whether we hold personal information about you and request copies in a structured format.
• Correction & Rectification: The right to request the correction, completion, or updating of inaccurate personal information.
• Deletion / Destruction: The right to request the deletion or destruction of personal information that is inaccurate, irrelevant, excessive, or unlawfully collected.
• Objection to Processing: The right to object to processing on reasonable grounds relating to your particular situation, or to object to direct marketing.
• Withdrawal of Consent: The right to withdraw consent at any time where processing was grounded on consent.
• Complaints: The right to lodge a complaint with the South African Information Regulator (inforeg@justice.gov.za) or your local supervisory data protection authority.

10. Children’s Privacy

FormuVet is designed strictly for licensed adult veterinary professionals, clinical personnel, and students aged 18 and older. The App is not directed to children under 18, and we do not knowingly collect personal information relating to minors.

11. Information Officer & Contact Details

For any questions, requests, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy, your personal data, or to contact our Information Officer, please reach out to:

Entity: Pets Best Consultancy Inc. (trading as Best Pet Apps)
Jurisdiction: Republic of South Africa
Email: info@formuvet.com
Website: https://www.formuvet.com

By downloading, accessing, browsing, calculating with, viewing, or relying upon any veterinary drug reference, constant rate infusion (CRI), fluid rate, emergency dosing aid, resuscitation protocol, chemotherapy calculation, breed warning, clinical guideline, algorithm, artificial intelligence response, or other output (collectively, “Outputs”) from FormuVet (the “App” or “Service”, owned and operated by Pets Best Consultancy Inc., publishing as “Best Pet Apps”), you (“User”, “you”, or “your”, whether a licensed veterinarian, veterinary nurse, technician, student, clinic administrator, or any other individual) acknowledge, understand, and unconditionally agree as follows:

1. Informational & Decision-Support Reference Only — No Practice of Veterinary Medicine

The App is provided solely as an informational reference, educational aid, and mathematical decision-support tool. Pets Best Consultancy Inc., Best Pet Apps, FormuVet, their creator, developer, owners, directors, contributors, operators, and licensors (collectively, the “Released Parties”) DO NOT practice veterinary medicine, veterinary pharmacology, or veterinary surgery, and do not provide medical, diagnostic, or therapeutic services. The App is not a substitute for the clinical training, diagnostic acumen, direct physical examination, and professional judgment of a qualified, licensed veterinarian. Under no circumstances does the App establish a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (“VCPR”), doctor-patient relationship, or any other professional fiduciary duty between the Released Parties and any animal, client, pet owner, or healthcare practitioner.

2. Sole, Exclusive & Non-Delegable Responsibility of the Attending Clinician

Ultimate, sole, and exclusive responsibility for every clinical judgment, patient diagnosis, differential diagnosis, prescription, dosing regimen, treatment plan, fluid therapy protocol, surgical intervention, follow-up schedule, and client communication rests entirely and non-delegably with:

• The User who accesses or uses the App; and
• The attending licensed veterinary surgeon or authorized healthcare clinician physically responsible for the care and treatment of the patient.

The User expressly agrees that the App shall NEVER be used as the sole, unverified, or independent basis for any medical, surgical, or prescribing decision.

3. Mandatory Duty of Independent Clinical Verification

Veterinary pharmacological and clinical knowledge evolves continuously. Errors, omissions, computational bugs, data synchronization issues, and typographical inaccuracies can occur. Before administering, dispensing, or prescribing any drug, fluid, or therapy, the User has a strict, mandatory legal and clinical obligation to independently verify:

• Patient Parameters: Identity, species, breed, exact weight, body condition score, hydration status, renal/hepatic function, pregnancy/lactation status, and species-specific metabolic differences;
• Formulation & Strength: Stock drug concentration (e.g., mg/mL, % solution, tablets), specific salt form, manufacturer specifications, carrier fluid compatibility, and route of administration;
• Dosage Calculations: Mathematical calculations, decimal placement, unit conversions (e.g., mcg/kg/min vs. mg/kg/hr vs. mg/m²), infusion pump programming, and dilution ratios;
• Pharmacological Appropriateness: Patient-specific contraindications, drug-drug interactions, narrow therapeutic index precautions, and pre-existing comorbidities;
• Authoritative Literature: Current manufacturer product inserts, statutory formularies (e.g., BSAVA, Plumb’s, NOAH Compendium, FDA package inserts), and peer-reviewed veterinary consensus guidelines;
• Jurisdictional Law: Applicable national, provincial, and statutory prescribing legislation (such as the South African Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965 / Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act 19 of 1982, US AMDUCA, or UK VMR), controlled substance regulations, and VCPR requirements.

4. Veterinary Cascade, Extra-Label / Off-Label Prescribing & Food-Producing Animals

Veterinary practice frequently necessitates the off-label or extra-label use of authorized veterinary medicines or human pharmaceuticals under statutory cascade provisions. Any mention in the App of an off-label dose, unapproved species indication, or human formulation is provided strictly for educational reference.

The prescribing veterinary surgeon is exclusively and personally responsible for:

• Legally and clinically justifying any cascade or extra-label usage;
• Obtaining valid informed consent from the animal’s owner or caretaker regarding off-label drug administration;
• Establishing, calculating, and enforcing legally compliant withdrawal intervals for food-producing animals (meat, milk, eggs, honey) to prevent adulteration and residues;
• Monitoring for and reporting any suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to the relevant marketing authorization holder and statutory regulatory authorities.

5. User Data-Entry, Rounding & Unit Disclaimers

All calculators and outputs within the App rely completely on the accuracy of data entered by the User. The Released Parties disclaim any and all liability for errors, injuries, or adverse outcomes resulting from:

• User data-entry mistakes, typographical errors, misplaced decimal points, or incorrect numerical inputs;
• Incorrect unit selection (such as confusing pounds [lb] with kilograms [kg], or micrograms [μg] with milligrams [mg]);
• Selecting the wrong commercial drug concentration, proprietary brand, or pharmaceutical formulation;
• Mathematical rounding differences, screen display truncations, or operating system rendering behaviors.

6. Breed-Specific Sensitivities & Pharmacogenomics

While the App incorporates reference alerts regarding recognized breed-specific pharmacogenetic sensitivities (e.g., ABCB1 / MDR1 mutation sensitivities in Herding breeds, sighthound anesthetic sensitivities, feline idiosyncratic drug reactions), these reference alerts are not exhaustive. The absence of an alert or warning banner does not indicate that a drug is safe for a specific patient or breed. Individual genetic testing, metabolic capacity, and clinical vigilance remain the exclusive responsibility of the treating clinician.

7. Emergency, Resuscitation, Critical Care & ICU Tools

In life-threatening cardiopulmonary emergencies (e.g., cardiac arrest, CPR/RECOVER algorithms, status epilepticus, anaphylactic shock), clinical decisions must be made instantaneously. The App is not an automated life-support monitor, infusion pump controller, or guaranteed real-time emergency system. The Released Parties do not warrant that the App will operate without latency, server delays, device crashes, or network interruptions during critical care situations. Established hospital emergency protocols and immediate clinical intervention must always take precedence.

8. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Features & Algorithmic Limitations

Where the App incorporates generative artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automated natural language processing, such tools are strictly exploratory and assistive. AI models are non-deterministic, probabilistic, and prone to generating outputs that may be incomplete, outdated, clinically inappropriate, or inaccurate (“hallucinations”). AI outputs must NEVER be relied upon without thorough, independent verification against authoritative veterinary texts and manufacturer prescribing information.

9. Complete Disclaimer of Duties to Third Parties & Non-Users (The “Third-Party Shield”)

NO DUTY TO NON-USERS: To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Released Parties owe NO DUTY OF CARE, professional duty, delictual/tort duty, or fiduciary obligation to any person or entity who is not the direct, registered user of the App. This express disclaimer applies without limitation to:

• Animal owners, pet owners, breeders, agricultural producers, equine owners, and clients;
• Veterinary practices, clinics, hospitals, corporate healthcare entities, practice owners, and employers;
• Insurers, indemnitors, subrogees, or underwriters;
• The patient animals themselves.

NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES: No provision of this Agreement or of the App is intended to confer, nor shall it confer, any legal right, remedy, claim, or benefit upon any third party or non-user.

PROHIBITION ON THIRD-PARTY RELIANCE: The User is expressly prohibited from representing to animal owners, clients, or third parties that FormuVet, Pets Best Consultancy Inc., or Best Pet Apps has prescribed, calculated, verified, endorsed, or guaranteed any drug dosage, treatment plan, diagnosis, or clinical outcome. Any clinical recommendation communicated to an animal owner remains solely and exclusively the professional advice and representation of the User.

10. Assumption of All Clinical and Operational Risks

The User knowingly, freely, and voluntarily assumes all risks—both known and unknown, foreseeable and unforeseeable—associated with the access, use, or misuse of the App and its Outputs, including but not limited to risks of computational error, scientific omission, software defect, network failure, patient deterioration, adverse drug reaction, toxicity, disability, or death, as well as any associated financial loss, economic damage, or loss of professional standing.

11. Absolute Disclaimer of Warranties

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE APP, SERVICES, AND ALL OUTPUTS ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS”, “AS AVAILABLE”, AND “WITH ALL FAULTS” BASIS. THE RELEASED PARTIES EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR SUITABILITY FOR CLINICAL VETERINARY USE;
• ANY WARRANTIES OF SCIENTIFIC ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, RELIABILITY, TIMELINESS, CURRENCY, OR ERROR-FREE OPERATION;
• ANY WARRANTIES THAT THE APP WILL COMPLY WITH PROFESSIONAL VETERINARY STANDARDS OF CARE OR JURISDICTIONAL REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS;
• ANY WARRANTIES AGAINST TECHNICAL DEFECTS, DATA LOSS, CORRUPTION, SERVER DOWNTIME, OR INTERRUPTIONS.

12. Irrevocable Release and Waiver of Claims

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE USER HEREBY FULLY, IRREVOCABLY, AND UNCONDITIONALLY RELEASES, ACQUITS, WAIVES, AND FOREVER DISCHARGES THE RELEASED PARTIES FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, SUITS, CAUSES OF ACTION, LIABILITIES, LOSSES, DAMAGES, JUDGMENTS, PENALTIES, COSTS, AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING LEGAL DEFENSE COSTS AND ATTORNEYS’ FEES) OF EVERY NATURE, WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, IN CONTRACT, DELICT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, STATUTORY LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE APP, OUTPUTS, OR CLINICAL DECISIONS.

13. Comprehensive User Indemnification & Duty to Defend

The User agrees to DEFEND (with legal counsel approved by the Released Parties), INDEMNIFY, and HOLD HARMLESS the Released Parties from and against ANY AND ALL third-party claims, lawsuits, demands, complaints, regulatory or veterinary licensing disciplinary investigations, damages, liabilities, losses, judgments, penalties, fines, settlements, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs, and expert witness fees) arising out of, relating to, or resulting from:

• The User’s access to, use, or misuse of the App or any Output;
• Any clinical decision, diagnosis, prescription, treatment, omission, surgery, or veterinary care provided or not provided to any animal;
• Any patient outcome, adverse drug event, deterioration, organ failure, toxicity, injury, or death;
• Any claim or action brought by ANY third party—including animal owners, clients, pet health insurers, employers, clinic owners, or regulatory licensing boards—alleging malpractice, negligence, product liability, or breach of veterinary standards of care in connection with care where the App was consulted or utilized;
• The User’s breach of any provision of this Agreement;
• The User’s violation of any law, statute, prescribing regulation, or professional code of conduct.

This indemnification obligation survives the termination of your account, uninstallation of the App, and cessation of use.

14. Strict Limitation of Liability & Damages Cap

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL THE RELEASED PARTIES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DAMAGES FOR DEATH OR INJURY OF ANIMALS, LOSS OF BREEDING OR SHOW VALUE, LOSS OF REVENUE OR PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, REPUTATIONAL DAMAGE, LOSS OF GOODWILL, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, CLAIMS OF MALPRACTICE, LOSS OF CLINICAL RECORDS, OR FAILURE OF MEDICAL TREATMENT, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF THE RELEASED PARTIES TO YOU OR ANY CLAIMANT FOR ALL DAMAGES, LOSSES, AND CAUSES OF ACTION EXCEED THE GREATER OF: (A) THE TOTAL AMOUNT PAID BY YOU TO FORMUVET IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO LIABILITY, OR (B) FIFTY UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($50.00 USD) / NINE HUNDRED SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (R900 ZAR) OR LOCAL CURRENCY EQUIVALENT.

15. Professional Licensing & Legal Compliance Warranty

The User represents and warrants that they possess all required professional licenses, credentials, and legal authority to practice veterinary medicine or administer veterinary care in the jurisdiction(s) where they operate, and that their use of the App complies with all applicable local, provincial, national, and statutory laws.

16. Governing Law, Jurisdiction & Dispute Resolution

Governing Law: This Agreement, its interpretation, and any dispute, delict, or claim arising out of or related to it or the App shall be governed exclusively by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of law.

Exclusive Forum & Jurisdiction: Any legal proceeding, dispute, or lawsuit arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the App, or the Released Parties shall be instituted exclusively in the High Court of South Africa (or magistrates' court having competent subject-matter jurisdiction), and the parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive personal and subject-matter jurisdiction of such courts.

Informal Resolution: The parties agree to attempt good-faith informal resolution for at least thirty (30) days prior to initiating any formal legal proceeding.

Class Action Waiver: You agree that any dispute resolution proceeding shall be conducted solely on an individual basis. You expressly waive any right to bring, join, or participate in any class action, collective lawsuit, private attorney general proceeding, or consolidated claim against the Released Parties.

Statute of Limitations: Any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to this Agreement or the App must be formally commenced within one (1) year after the cause of action accrued; otherwise, such claim is permanently and irrevocably barred.

Severability: If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by an arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.