2 November 2001
Top AMTRA Students get their just rewards
The top students of theAnimal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority manufacturers examinations for2000 have been rewarded for their achievements.
The winners were JacquelineMayer, of Pfizer Ltd and Mike Squire, of Virbac and runners-up Martin Collins,then of the Veterinary Hospital, Newnham Court, Suzanne McNicholas of FortDodge, Steve Meakin of Elanco and Andrew Pryde of Schering Plough. Theyreceived their awards from AMTRA Chairman Phil Thomas, at the Annual Conferenceof the National Office of Animal Health, on 22 October, in a ceremony postponedfrom April. (Mr Collins was unfortunately unable to be present).
AMTRA is an independentregulatory body, whose task is to ensure that the marketing and distribution ofanimal medicines in the UK is undertaken in a responsible manner, by AMTRAqualified persons. In 1991, to add to manufacturers' own training schemes, theAnimal Medicines Sales Staff Register was added to the existing AMTRA registerof Agricultural Merchants Suitably Qualified Persons.
Since 1994, registration ofsales staff with AMTRA has been a requirement of NOAH membership, andrepresentatives must take the examination within 2 years of joining theindustry. To acknowledge the hard work needed to gain the qualification, eachyear, NOAH sponsors prizes for the highest scoring entrants in the AMTRAManufacturers examinations.
The original ceremony, whichwas due to have taken place at the NOAH Annual Dinner but cancelled due to footand mouth, would have included presentations to the top students in theAMTRA GSL/Companion Animal Exam,sponsored by the Pet Care Trust. The top student was Elaine Hesselden from CWG:runners up were Sally Goldthorpe and Cathy Cuckow, both from Notcutts. Theyhave already received their awards.
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Notes for Editors
1. For further informationcontact: NOAH - Roger Cook or AlisonGlennon on 020 8367 3131, or e-mail noah@noah.co.ukor visit the NOAH website http://www.noah.co.uk; or AMTRA - Mrs Winn Dawson on 01394 411010, or e-mail info@amtra.org.uk or visit the AMTRAwebsite http://www.amtra.org.uk
2. Aphotograph of the AMTRA prizewinners with Prof Phil Thomas, Chairman of AMTRA,is available on the NOAH website http://www.noah.co.uk/. Biographicaldetails also appear on the NOAH website.
3. AMTRAis an independent regulatory body whose task it is to ensure that thedistribution of animal medicines in the UK is undertaken in a responsiblemanner by qualified persons. The board of AMTRA comprises an independentchairman and vice-chairman, two directors appointed by DEFRA, two from NOAH,three from Animal Health Distributors Association and one each from NationalFarmers Union, Pet Care Trust, British Veterinary Association, RoyalPharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and British Equestrian TradeAssociation.
4. 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 38 corporate members and 12 associatemembers. In 2000 NOAH's members accounted for around 95% of the 357 million UKanimal health market, with additional valuable exports.
5. Thereare now 4 different AMTRA Registers of Qualified Persons: AgriculturalMerchants Suitably Qualified Persons (SQP) Register, Saddlers SuitablyQualified Persons (SQP) Register, Animal Medicine Manufacturers' Sales StaffRegister and GSL Companion Animal Medicines Register.
6. PMLstands for Pharmacy and Merchants List: animal medicines that can be suppliedto keepers of animals by agricultural merchants whose premises are registeredand where the sale is authorised by a suitably qualified person, as well asthrough pharmacies, or by veterinary surgeons to animals under their care. GSLstands for General Sales List. Medicines classified as such have to undergo thefull stringent licensing procedure, but are classified as suitable for sellingfrom any retailer.