Representing the Manufacturers of Animal Medicines

National Office of Animal Health Ltd

3 Crossfield Chambers, Gladbeck Way, Enfield, Middlesex EN27HF

Tel: (+44) 020 83673131 Facsimile: (+44) 020 8363 1155

e-mail: a.glennon@noah.co.uk

PressRelease

23December 2002

Working together works says NOAH Chief Exec

Working together works. That wasthe conclusion of Philip Sketchley, one year after he took over as Chief Executiveof the National Office of Animal Health. We have seen some major steps forwardthis year, brought about by liaison to ensure that medicines remain availablefor the health and welfare of animals.

• The European Parliament have been persuaded to propose an amendment to the European Commissions Regulatory Review proposal which would allow the UK PML system for distribution of animal medicines to continue.

• The European veterinary profession has also gained success in getting proposals included in the same EP Report which could see the end to the long-standing worry over the availability of medicines for horses.

• The Government response to the Marsh Report acknowledges how important it is that a full range of medicines remain available for animals. The Government has rejected the proposal that would have allowed veterinarians to prescribe human medicines for companion animals in place of a properly authorised animal medicine.

• The Veterinary Products Committee, in its report on canine and feline vaccination, concluded that currently available dog and cat vaccines play a very valuable role in the prevention and control of major infectious diseases and strongly supports their use.

• The report from the Veterinary Residues Committee showed that no UK authorised use of a veterinary medicinal product resulted in a residue which would give cause for concern for human health: a high level of compliance with safe use of animal medicines is being achieved. Groupings such as the RUMA Alliance and its guidelines for the responsible use of antimicrobials have helped - and NOAH itself has played its part with the publication of the Data Sheet Compendium and now the publication of the withdrawal period tables on the internet

• RUMA has produced new guidelines giving practical advice on the control of worms. The Pet Health Council website, which includes advice on the worming of dogs and cats, has this year been updated.

But we should not be complacent,said Mr Sketchley. Availability will not be secured until the Europeanregulatory review, the Government recommendations on the Marsh Report, and,indeed, the Competition Commission Report on veterinary medicines haveconcluded and been implemented. And we should not let up on working together tooffer best possible advice to the users of animal medicines. After all,medicines go through such stringent procedures before they are given amarketing authorisation and allowed on the market, they deserve to be used totheir best advantage.

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. For further information contact Philip Sketchley or Alison Glennon on020 8367 3131, e-mail noah@noah.co.ukor visit the NOAH website www.noah.co.uk.

2.       The National Office of AnimalHealth was formed on 1 January 1986 to represent the UK companies whichresearch, develop, manufacture and market licensed animal health products. Theassociation has 36 corporate members and 12 associate members. In 2001 NOAH'smembers accounted for around 95% of the 359 million UK animal health market,with additional valuable exports.

3.       For further information on ResponsibleUse of Medicines in Agriculture see http://www.ruma.org.uk. For Pet HealthCouncil information, see http://www.pethealthcouncil.co.uk.