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

4 September 2002

Poultry medicines - your questions answered

Poultry deserve the protection modern medicines cangive them to prevent and treat infectious disease. But what sort of medicines are they given and how are thesemedicines approved for the market?These questions and others are answered by a revised version of abriefing document on poultry medicines, just published by the National Officeof Animal Health.

Poultry medicines fall into two categories: vaccinesto stimulate the birds natural immune system to protect against a particulardisease or parasite, and pharmaceuticals, given in water or feed. As with all medicines for animals, they mustreceive a marketing authorisation before they are allowed on the market. Companies must carry out extensivescientific tests to prove products meet very strict standards on safety,quality and effectiveness, the results of which are evaluated by the LicensingAuthority.

Above all, the company must show the product issafe, not only for the bird which receives it, but also for anyone eatingpoultry meat or eggs. Consumers ofBritish poultry meat and eggs can be confident no harmful residues of themedicine remain: the safety margins built in the calculation of the withdrawalperiod (the time after the administration of a medicine when no produce fromthat bird can be sold) take care of that.

The briefing document Poultry Medicines can be found on the NOAH website www.noah.co.uk, or is available from Kleo Kyriacou at the NOAH office, 3 Crossfield Chambers, Gladbeck Way, Enfield, Middlesex, EN2 7HF, Telephone 020 8367 3131.

Ends.

Notesfor Editors

1. For furtherinformation contact Alison Glennon on 020 8367 3131, 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, developand manufacture and market licensed animal products. The association has 36corporate members and 12 associate members.In 2001 NOAHs membersaccounted for around 95% of the 359 million UK animal health market, with additional valuable exports.