AMTRA Pet Care Top Student RewardedThe top students of the Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority Companion Animal Medicines (GSL) Sales Staff Examination have been rewarded. Best Student Award, sponsored by the Pet Care Trust, goes to Kay Hewitt of Notcutts Garden Centre in St Albans, Hertfordshire, who took her examination in April 2003. Joint runners-up, who both qualified in September 2003, were Christine Lowe, from New Shambles Pet Shop in Kendal, Cumbria and Vickie Johnson, also of Notcutts Garden Centre, this time from the branch near Marlow, Buckinghamshire. They received their awards from Major Richard Pope of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps at the Annual Dinner of the National Office of Animal Health, on 22 April, in London. The Training and Certification of Companion Animal Medicines (GSL) Sales Staff award, which comes under the umbrella of the Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority, was devised by the Pet Care Trust, with full support from NOAH and AMTRA. It is designed for retailers of GSL pet medicines to the public and for manufacturers’ sales representatives selling pet medicines on the General Sales List to retailers. Speaking in London, NOAH chief executive Phil Sketchley explained why NOAH was delighted to host the presentation of these awards. “Companion animals have such a positive impact on people’s lives. And companion animals are not just ‘pets’: there are assistance animals who help people with long term illness and disabilities lead more fulfilling lives. It has been scientifically proven that animals help people get better – and help keep people well. They are good for children’s health, emotional development and schooling. This is why NOAH co-ordinated an event ‘Animals are good for you’ in the House of Lords on 3 March, in association with sixteen charities, to help spread the word about how important companion animals are to society. “To fulfil their important role, animals need to be healthy. Advice on medicines, which animals need to keep them healthy, needs to be good. These prize winners - and indeed all those with the AMTRA qualification - have proved that they are excellently placed to help people make the right choices for the health and welfare of their companion animals,” he added.
22 April 2004 Notes for EditorsIf you require a photograph of the AMTRA prizewinners please contact Joanne Jeffs at NOAH on 020 8370 3685. 1. Further information is available from: • Mrs Winn Dawson at AMTRA on 01394 411010, or e-mail info@amtra.org.uk or visit the AMTRA website www.amtra.org.uk • Phil Sketchley or Alison Glennon at NOAH on 020 8367 3131, or e-mail noah@noah.co.uk or visit the NOAH website www.noah.co.uk 2. Through the provision of training and related professional services for those involved in the distribution and marketing of animal health products, AMTRA seeks to ensure that in the UK animal medicines are sold, supplied and marketed in a responsible manner by appropriately qualified persons. AMTRA maintains Registers of AMTRA qualified persons and through the disciplinary responsibilities of its Ethics Committee ensures that those on the Registers conform with the relevant law and if applicable with the AMTRA Code of Good Practice. 3. The Pet Care Trust is a professional body supported by every sector of the British pet care industry. Its principal aims are:
• to promote responsible pet ownership
• to improve the standards of pet keeping
• to raise the awareness of the benefits of pet keeping
• to provide training programmes for people working in the industry
• to provide advice to pet owners 4. 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 33 corporate members and 14 associate members. In 2003 NOAH's members accounted for well over 90% of the £398 million UK animal health market | 