NOAH supports report’s ‘prevention is better than cure’ stance

Animal Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain, the draft report produced by Defra, the Scottish Executive and Welsh Assembly Government, represents a giant step forward for the nation’s animal population, according to the National Office of Animal Health (NOAH).

“As a vision for the future, the document has much to commend it,” commented Phil Sketchley, the organisation’s Chief Executive. “We are delighted that the report espouses the use of appropriate medicines to prevent animals from becoming ill in the first place. We are also pleased that it recognises the ready availability of therapeutic medicines is fundamental to any national animal health and welfare strategy.”

Welcoming the report’s conclusion, that prevention is better than cure, Mr Sketchley underlined the crucial importance of animal medicines in achieving this objective. He also expressed support for the report’s suggestion that the uptake of preventive medicines provides a useful method of measuring the success of such a strategy.

Despite the report’s attributes, Mr Sketchley believes improvement is possible. Whilst acknowledging that the creation of a Strategy Steering Board would be fundamental to implementing and monitoring the final report, NOAH believes it should draw on a wider knowledge base than has been proposed. He commented:

“NOAH and its member companies have a wealth of scientific expertise in the animal medicines industry, which we would be pleased to make available. We believe government should demonstrate a willingness to benefit from this, through a position on the Strategy Steering Board.

“We also take the view that, in addition to veterinary surgeons, the Strategy Steering Board should include representation from others with direct knowledge of animal medicines. Members of the Animal Medicines Training and Regulatory Authority (AMTRA) deal with the supply of medicines on a day-to-day basis and have facilitated the smooth running of the animal health industry for many years. Their daily contact with the farming community makes them the ideal source of information on a range of practical issues, including biosecurity. Through the register of Suitably Qualified Persons in the agricultural merchant sector, AMTRA is in a strong position to assist Government in implementing any future animal health and welfare strategy.

“NOAH, together with the wider animal health industry, is able to provide Government with a huge pool of expertise, much of which is also freely available to members of the public who use animal medicines. Our hope is that all the political parties will work together to ensure that the vision contained within the draft report is ultimately realised. If that is the case, the benefits will extend well beyond the health and welfare of farm animals, to include the nation’s horses and pets.”

31 October 2003

Notes for Editors

1. For further information contact Phil Sketchley or Alison Glennon at NOAH, tel. +44 (0)20 8367 3131, or visit the NOAH website.

2. 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 34 corporate members and 14 associate members. In 2002 NOAH's members accounted for well over 90% of the £389 million UK animal health market

3. NOAH's full submission on the outline strategy can be seen by following the link.