Promotion of Animal Medicines: Standards of Responsibility Improved
The operation of the NOAH Code of Practice
for the Promotion of Animal Medicines has been updated to make it faster, fairer and
more open.
Users of animal medicines wish to have information about the products
with which animals are treated. The Code aims to ensure
that promotions are fair and that they do not include exaggerated claims or encourage the
inappropriate use of a particular veterinary medicinal product.
Since the Code started in 1974 there
have been several revisions. The latest changes affect the Constitution under which the Code of Practice committee operates to improve the speed
with which cases are dealt, the fairness to those with complaints and to 'defendants' and
the information about the workings of the Code.
The main changes to the rules are:
- Industry members of the Code of Practice committee will
be elected by the NOAH membership at a general meeting. There will also be a 5 year period
of service for industry members.
- The number of committee members will be increased to 15. There will now be 4 independent
members rather than 2, 2 being practising veterinary surgeons recommended by the British Veterinary Association and 2
being livestock farmers recommended by the National Farmers Union. The chairman,
secretary, assistant secretary and the independent members will continue to be elected by
the NOAH board.
- Conciliators will be available to bring companies together to avoid a formal complaint
being necessary, and to give advice.
- Following a formal hearing (at which the respondent may give evidence) the committee
makes a ruling on the complaint and the respondent must comply (for example by withdrawing
the leaflet under complaint). In severe instances the case may also be reported to the
NOAH Board. If a company is a NOAH member, the Board can then decide, based on this
ruling;
(a) to reprimand the company and publish details of that reprimand
(b) to require the company to publish a corrective statement
(c) whether or not a recommendation should be made that the company's
membership of NOAH should be terminated or suspended.
In addition to the procedural changes, there will be more frequent
meetings with the provision for a meeting every month. Precis of cases will be reported to
professional and trade press after each meeting.
An independent, legally experienced secretary will also be appointed
although the NOAH director will still attend each meeting on an advisory basis.
Reports of perceived transgressions should be submitted in writing for
consideration by the NOAH Code of Practice committee.
17 January 1997 |
