20December 2001
New chairman for NOAH Code
Richard Arnold QC has beenappointed the new independent chairman of the NOAH Code of Practice for thePromotion of Animal Medicines. Mr Arnold, based at Grays Inn, is an expert inintellectual property law. He succeeds David Kitchin QC, who steps down at theend of 2001, after 6 years' service.
The NOAH Code of Practice regulatesthe contents and quality of advertisements, leaflets and promotional activitiesfor animal medicines to help ensure that animal medicine promotions 'do notbring discredit upon, or reduce confidence in, the industry'. Going beyond the requirements of theAdvertising Standards Authority requirements and the legal obligations of theMedicines Act which still apply, it was established in 1974 and since then ithas been kept under review and updated.
Through the Code, the industryensures that those involved with selling and using animal medicines, be theyveterinary surgeons, animal health distributors, farmers or pet owners, receivethe correct information they need to make decisions.
All NOAH members must comply withthe Code (as must non-members who appear in the Compendium of Data Sheets forVeterinary Products). Decisions on whether promotional material infringes theCode are taken by the Code of Practice Committee. The Committee membershiptotals 15: in addition to Mr Arnold as chairman, there is a solicitor assecretary and the membership includes independent veterinarians and farmers aswell as elected industry representatives. The current British VeterinaryAssociation President, Andrew Scott, is a long-serving member of the group.
The Code appears in the front ofthe new 2001-2002 edition of the Compendium, available from John C AlboroughLtd, Lion Lane, Needham Market, Suffolk IP6 8NT, telephone 01449 723800, for25 (UK) and 30 (overseas) for single copies. Special discounts are availablefor multiple orders.
A booklet containing the Code isalso available, free of charge, from Kleo Kyriacou, telephone 020 8367 3131, atthe NOAH office, or the Code and further information can be seen on the NOAHwebsite at www.noah.co.uk.
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1. Forfurther information contact Roger Cook or Alison Glennon on 020 8367 3131, ore-mail noah@noah.co.uk or visit theNOAH website www.noah.co.uk
2. 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 now has 38 corporate members and 12 associate members. In 2000NOAH's members accounted for around 95% of the 357 million UK animal healthmarket, with additional valuable exports.