14 April 2000

First AMTRA Pet Care Top Students Rewarded

At the NOAH annual dinner inLondon, the first top students of the new Animal Medicines Training RegulatoryAuthority Companion Animal Medicines (GSL) Sales Staff Examination have beenrewarded. Best Student Award goes toJerry Arnold of Seapets, who was presented the award by Baroness Hayman,Minister of State (Lords) MAFF.

Jerry Arnold, based in Essex, isthe founder of Seapets Centres which has been trading for 25 years. He took the examination to encourage hissales staff to achieve higher qualifications in the work they enjoy.

Runner-up prize went to SophieBrown, from Cambridge, who has been brand manager for Beaphar Sherleys forjust over a year.

The Training and Certification of CompanionAnimal Medicines (GSL) Sales Staff award, which comes under the umbrella of theAnimal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority, was devised by the Pet CareTrust, with full support from NOAH and AMTRA.It is designed for retailers of GSL pet medicines to the public and formanufacturers sales representatives selling pet medicines on the General SalesList to retailers.

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Notes for Editors

1.     Further information is available from:

MrsWinn Dawson at AMTRA on 01394 411010, or e-mail info@amtra.org.uk or visit the AMTRA website www.amtra.org.uk

CarolScott at the Pet Care Trust on 01234 273933

RogerCook or Alison Glennon at NOAH on 020 8367 3131, or e-mail noah@noah.co.uk or visit the NOAH website www.noah.co.uk

2. Through the provision of trainingand related professional services for those involved in the distribution andmarketing of animal health products, AMTRA seeks to ensure that in the UKanimal medicines are sold, supplied and marketed in a responsible manner byappropriately qualified persons.

AMTRA maintains Registers ofAMTRA qualified persons and through the disciplinary responsibilities of itsEthics Committee ensures that those on the Registers conform with the relevantlaw and if applicable with the AMTRA Code of Good Practice.

3. The Pet Care Trust is aprofessional body supported by every sector of the British pet care industry.Its principal aims are:

topromote responsible pet ownership

toimprove the standards of pet keeping

toraise the awareness of the benefits of pet keeping

toprovide training programmes for people working in the industry

toprovide advice to pet owners

4. 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 11 associate members. In 1999 NOAH'smembers accounted for around 95% of the 371 million UK animal health market,with additional valuable exports.

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