'Use medicines responsibly' - new guidance from NOAH

The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) has today launched a new ‘Use Medicines Responsibly’ campaign through a strapline for its members’ advertisements.

Building on the excellent existing advice which prescribers and users of animal medicines already find so useful, the strapline will refer to a special easy-reference page on the NOAH website (www.noah.co.uk/responsible). This gathers information such as that produced by RUMA (the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance) and others, and will add some useful advice of its own.

Speaking at the NOAH annual members’ conference in Northampton, NOAH chief executive Phil Sketchley said: ”NOAH believes responsible promotion of animal medicines to be an important link in the chain towards responsible use. Companies’ promotional material can educate prescribers and users of animal medicines to the benefit of their animals’ health and welfare.

“We believe this new advice resource, with the reminder on advertisements, will help.”

He added: “NOAH is firmly committed to responsible promotion of animal medicines. Its Code of Practice is now in its 20th edition, and is reviewed each year to make sure it keeps pace with changing times.”

Earlier in the Conference delegates heard from Guy Tritton, the independent barrister chairman of the NOAH Code, who reiterated the need for companies to stick to the spirit as well as the letter of the Code. “NOAH is justifiably proud of how animal medicines promotion is so well regulated”, he said. “The Code has been further strengthened this year by the addition of three additional independent members representing veterinarians, farmers and pet owners.

“I look forward to continuing to steer this Code in its vital role”, he said.

Ends

6 October 2009

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 UK companies which research, develop, manufacture and market licensed animal health products. The association has 28 corporate members and 7 associate members. In 2008 the NOAH sales survey showed a total market of £449m, around 90% of the total UK market.

3. RUMA (The Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance) was set up in November 1997 to promote the highest standards of food safety, animal health and animal welfare in British livestock farming. It launched the original cattle guidelines in June 2000. Since that time the guidelines have been used as part of farm assurance schemes. There are also RUMA guidelines for the responsible use of antimicrobials in cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep and fish. See www.ruma.org.uk for more information