AMTRA top students rewarded

The top students from the 2003 Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority manufacturers’ examinations have been rewarded for their achievements.

Top in the April 2003 examination was Stephen Haynes of Merial, with Lynda Rose, also from Merial, as runner-up. Winner of the September 2003 award was Rachel Crowe from Schering Plough and George Fulford from Virbac was runner-up. 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.

AMTRA is the independent regulatory body ensuring the responsible marketing and distribution of animal medicines in the UK. It holds examinations which need to be passed to gain an AMTRA qualification. There are four registers, to cover the spread of medicines distribution – for manufacturers, animal health distributors, saddlers and those involved with GSL pet medicines. To acknowledge the hard work needed to gain the manufacturers’ qualification, each year NOAH sponsors prizes for the highest scoring entrants in these examinations.

In 2002 AMTRA revised its training so that students, after following a combined foundation course, are able to study in more detail modules specialising in the areas in which they work. These students were the first to follow the new syllabus.

NOAH chief executive Phil Sketchley said: “NOAH would like to congratulate the top students. Their hard work is a credit to themselves, their companies and the animal health industry. The AMTRA qualifications are designed to ensure that the highest standards of training, education and professional conduct are upheld, right across the whole spectrum of animal medicine distribution. It is this professionalism that makes AMTRA SQPs – from all the registers – ideal to assist DEFRA in the implementation of its Animal Health and Welfare Strategy.

“We look forward to AMTRA’s role being formally acknowledged in the Government’s plans,” added Mr Sketchley.

The AMTRA manufacturers’ scheme was instigated in 1991 to give animal medicine manufacturers’ representatives the opportunity to gain a formal qualification and to become better informed about their industry. It is now a condition of NOAH membership that all manufacturers’ representatives become qualified through the appropriate AMTRA scheme.

22 April 2004

Notes for Editors

If you require a photograph of the AMTRA prizewinners please contact Joanne Jeffs at NOAH on 020 8370 3685.

1. For further information contact: NOAH - Phil Sketchley or Alison Glennon on 020 8367 3131, or e-mail noah@noah.co.uk or visit the NOAH website www.noah.co.uk; AMTRA - Mrs Winn Dawson on 01394 411010, or e-mail info@amtra.org.uk or visit the AMTRA website www.amtra.org.uk

2. A photograph of the AMTRA prizewinners is available on the NOAH website http://www.noah.co.uk/

3. AMTRA is an independent regulatory body whose task it is to ensure that the distribution of animal medicines in the UK is undertaken in a responsible manner by qualified persons. The board of AMTRA comprises an independent chairman and vice-chairman, two directors appointed by DEFRA, two from NOAH, three from Animal Health Distributors Association and one each from National Farmers Union, Pet Care Trust, British Veterinary Association, Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and British Equestrian Trade Association.

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.

5. There are 4 different AMTRA Registers of Qualified Persons: Agricultural Merchants Suitably Qualified Persons (SQP) Register, Saddlers Suitably Qualified Persons (SQP) Register, Animal Medicine Manufacturers' Sales Staff Register and GSL Companion Animal Medicines Register.

6. PML animal medicines that can be supplied to keepers of animals by agricultural merchants whose premises are registered and where the sale is authorised by a suitably qualified person, as well as through pharmacies, or by veterinary surgeons to animals under their care. GSL stands for General Sales List. Medicines classified as such have to undergo the full stringent licensing procedure, but are classified as suitable for selling from any retailer.