Merial Animal Health found in breach of NOAH Code on promotion

Merial have been found in breach of the NOAH Code of Practice on Promotion of Animal Medicines (Case No. 257/11/06).

The Committee, chaired by Richard Arnold QC, judged that all four items complained of were inconsistent with the SPC, contrary to Clause 4.7., because they amounted to a claim that ProteqFlu and ProteqFlu-Te gave immunity after a single dose whereas the SPC states that onset of immunity is 14 days after the primary vaccination course of two doses.

Merial Animal Health have accepted the ruling of the Committee and will not continue to pursue these promotional activities.

Please refer to the NOAH website www.noah.co.uk/code for full details of the Committee’s rulings.

11 June 2007

Notes for Editors

1. For further information contact Phil Sketchley 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 UK companies which research, develop, manufacture and market licensed animal health products. The association has 32 corporate members and 10 associate members. In 2006 the NOAH sales survey showed a total market of £373.2m, around 90% of the total UK market.

3. Since 1974 the animal medicine industry has regulated the contents and quality of advertisements, leaflets and promotional activities under its Code of Practice for the Promotion of Animal Medicines which is obligatory for all NOAH members and companies participating in the NOAH Datasheet Compendium. The Code is administered by a committee of 15, including an independent chairman, veterinary and farming members as well as elected industry experts.

4. This release summarises the Code of Practice Committee meeting on 15 December 2006.