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

24February 2003

VPC Report on Antibiotic Resistance - antibiotics for animals essential

Antimicrobials are essential drugsfor the treatment and prevention of disease. They help reduce animal sufferingand contribute to the production of healthy food. This statement from theVeterinary Products Committee underpinned its new report on antimicrobialresistance in relation to veterinary medicines, published on 13 February.Moreover, the report acknowledges that given the available evidence, treatmentfailure in human medicine is more likely to arise from sub-optimalantimicrobial use in humans.

Welcoming many aspects of thereport, the National Office of Animal Health was pleased the report recognised thealready stringent controls on the approval of antibiotics and their maintenanceon the market, and the work being done to ensure they continue to be used responsibly. For example, the VeterinaryMedicines Directorate, in its response to the Report, highlighted theGovernments active support for the RUMA (Responsible Use of Medicines inAgriculture) Alliances guidelines for the responsible use of antibiotics.

The Government will be looking atthe Report, and the comments from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, beforeannouncing its response. NOAH are reassured that the report validates the longheld opinion of the animal medicines industry, that the real cause ofantibiotic resistance is not with excessive or inappropriate use in animals.

Nevertheless, said NOAHs chief executive Phil Sketchley, We acknowledge that, even though animal antibiotics are not the major issue for human medicine problems, we still have a big part to play in ensuring they remain effective to protect both humans and animals. However, we believe that the fundamental background to this report: that animal antibiotics are essential and are not causing problems for human medicine, needs to be the key to the Governments -response. As the report itself says, The requirements for the provision of data in support of a licence claim must not be sostringent as to prevent the authorisation of potentially useful products. Veterinarysurgeons must not miss out on potentially life-saving new treatments forBritish animals, because of any further tightening of licensing requirementsand further unnecessary restrictions on their use. He added that it was afutile exercise to burden British vets and farmers further, when meat can beimported from areas where no such controls on antibiotic use exist - exposingunwitting consumers of the produce to potential risk.

The animal health industry, throughits global federation IFAH and through NOAH in the UK, looks forward tocontinuing to work with the regulators, colleagues in the food chain and themedical profession, to ensure antibiotics can continue to provide excellentservice to animal welfare and to the production of healthy, safe food fromhealthy animals, with no compromise to human health.

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. For further information contact Philip Sketchley or Alison Glennon on 020 8367 3131, e-mail noah@noah.co.uk or visit the NOAH website www.noah.co.uk.

2. TheNational Office of Animal Health was formed on 1 January 1986 to represent theUK companies which research, develop, manufacture and market licensed animalhealth products. The association has 36 corporate members and 13 associatemembers. In 2001 NOAH's members accounted for around 95% of the 359 million UKanimal health market, with additional valuable exports.

3. The Veterinary ProductsCommittee (VPC) was established in 1970 under Section 4 of the Medicines Act1968 with the following Terms of Reference -

Togive advice with respect to safety, quality and efficacy in relation to theveterinary use of any substance or article (not being an instrument, apparatusor appliance) to which any provision of the Medicines Act is applicable.

Topromote the collection of information relating to suspected adverse reactionsfor the purpose of enabling such advice to be given.

4. The report is available on the VPC website http://www.vpc.gov.uk