Working together works says NOAH Chief Exec
"Working together works". That was the conclusion of Philip
Sketchley, one year after he took over as Chief Executive of the National
Office of Animal Health. "We have seen some major steps forward this
year, brought about by liaison to ensure that medicines remain available
for the health and welfare of animals."
- The European Parliament have been persuaded to propose an amendment
to the European Commission's Regulatory Review proposal which would
allow the UK PML system for distribution of animal medicines to
continue.
- The European veterinary profession has also gained success in getting
proposals included in the same EP Report which could see the end to the
long-standing worry over the availability of medicines for horses.
- The Government response to the 'Marsh Report acknowledges how
important it is that a full range of medicines remain available for
animals. The Government has rejected the proposal that would have allowed
veterinarians to prescribe human medicines for companion animals in place
of a properly authorised animal medicine.
- The Veterinary Products
Committee, in its report on canine and
feline vaccination, concluded that currently available dog and cat
vaccines play a very valuable role in the prevention and control of major
infectious diseases and strongly supports their use.
- The report from the Veterinary Residues Committee showed that no
"UK authorised use of a veterinary medicinal product resulted in a
residue which would give cause for concern for human health": a high
level of compliance with safe use of animal medicines is being achieved.
Groupings such as the RUMA Alliance and its guidelines for the responsible
use of antimicrobials have helped - and NOAH itself has played its part
with the publication of the Data Sheet Compendium and now the publication
of the withdrawal period tables on the internet
- RUMA has produced new guidelines giving practical advice on the
control of worms. The Pet Health Council
website, which includes advice on
the worming of dogs and cats, has this year been updated.
"But we should not be complacent," said Mr Sketchley.
"Availability will not be secured until the European regulatory
review, the Government recommendations on the 'Marsh Report', and, indeed,
the Competition Commission Report on veterinary medicines have concluded
and been implemented. And we should not let up on working together to
offer best possible advice to the users of animal medicines. After all,
medicines go through such stringent procedures before they are given a
marketing authorisation and allowed on the market, they deserve to be used
to their best advantage."
23 December 2002
Notes for Editors
For further information contact Phil Sketchley 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 12 associate members.
In 2001 NOAH's members accounted for around 95% of the £359 million UK animal health
market, with additional valuable exports.
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