NOAH welcomes clarification of FSA's Veterinary Products Committee role

The National Office of Animal Health looks forward to working with the Food Standards Agency when it becomes operational next year. Animal medicine companies welcome the opportunity to play their part in building on consumer confidence in British livestock produce.

"As healthy food comes from healthy animals, NOAH has an important part to play," explained NOAH director Roger Cook.

Mr Cook particularly welcomed the clarification given in the House of Lords, in the run up to the Bill's Royal Assent, on the relationship between the FSA and the Veterinary Products Committee. NOAH had feared the FSA nomination to this independent advisory committee would be appointed as of right, thus jeopardising the VPC's independence.

"But we welcome assurance of Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, that 'It is for Ministers to make the appointment and if they are not satisfied with the person or persons put forward by the agency for potential nomination they are very much at liberty to ask the agency to think again and put forward further names.' Despite potential confusion from the actual wording of the Act, it shows that the Government's intention is good: the VPC's independence will remain and the role of elected Ministers will not be undermined," Mr Cook said.

NOAH believes that it is vital for the VPC, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the FSA to work closely together. "The animal medicine industry is subject to extremely strict controls and we will offer the new Agency every support in publicising these," said Mr Cook.

17 November 1999

Notes for Editors

For further information contact Roger Cook or Alison Glennon at NOAH, tel. +44 (0)20 8367 3131, or visit the NOAH website.
The National Office of Animal Health was formed on 1 January 1986 to represent the UK companies which research, develop, manufacture and market licensed animal health products. The association has 36 corporate members and 10 associate members. In 1998 NOAH's members accounted for around 95% of the £384 million UK animal health market, with additional valuable exports.