Representing the Manufacturers of Animal Medicines |
Press Release
31 October 2003
NOAH supports reports prevention is better than cure stance
Animal Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain, the draft report produced byDefra, the Scottish Executive and WelshAssembly Government, represents a giant step forward for the nations animal population, according tothe National Office of Animal Health (NOAH).
As a vision for the future, the document has much tocommend it, commented Phil Sketchley, the organisations Chief Executive. Weare delighted that the report espouses the use of appropriate medicines toprevent animals from becoming ill in the first place. We are also pleased thatit recognises the ready availability of therapeutic medicines is fundamental toany national animal health and welfare strategy.
Welcoming the reportsconclusion, that prevention is better than cure, Mr Sketchley underlined thecrucial importance of animal medicines in achieving this objective. He alsoexpressed support for the reports suggestion that the uptake of preventivemedicines provides a useful method of measuring the success of such a strategy.
Despite the reportsattributes, Mr Sketchley believes improvement is possible. Whilst acknowledgingthat the creation of a Strategy Steering Board would be fundamental toimplementing and monitoring the final report, NOAH believes it should draw on awider knowledge base than has been proposed. He commented:
NOAH and its membercompanies have a wealth of scientific expertise in the animal medicinesindustry, which we would be pleased to make available. We believe governmentshould demonstrate a willingness to benefit from this, through a position onthe Strategy Steering Board.
We also take the view that,in addition to veterinary surgeons, the Strategy Steering Board should includerepresentation from others with direct knowledge of animal medicines. Membersof the Animal Medicines Training and Regulatory Authority (AMTRA) deal with thesupply of medicines on a day-to-day basis and have facilitated the smoothrunning of the animal health industry for many years. Their daily contact withthe farming community makes them the ideal source of information on a range ofpractical issues, including biosecurity. Through the register of SuitablyQualified Persons in the agricultural merchant sector, AMTRA is in a strongposition to assist Government in implementing any future animal health andwelfare strategy.
NOAH, together with thewider animal health industry, is able to provide Government with a huge pool ofexpertise, much of which is also freely available to members of the public whouse animal medicines. Our hope is that all the political parties will worktogether to ensure that the vision contained within the draft report isultimately realised. If that is the case, the benefits will extend well beyondthe health and welfare of farm animals, to include the nations horses andpets.
ENDS
NOTES FOREDITORS:
Further information isavailable from Alison Glennon at NOAH - Tel: 020 8367 3131 or by visiting theNOAH website, www.noah.co.uk
The National Office ofAnimal Health was formed on 1st January 1986 to represent the UKcompanies which research, develop, manufacture and market licensed animalhealth products. The association now has 34 corporate members and 14 associatemembers. In 2002, NOAHs members accounted for well over 90 per cent of the389 million UK animal health market.