Animal medicines - NOAH spells out priorities to candidates

The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) has spelt out its position on the priorities for the animal medicines industry to prospective Parliamentary candidates.

In a manifesto to all candidates ahead of next month’s General Election, NOAH reiterates its support for Better Regulation, ensuring that the regulatory burden on animal medicines companies is not so great so as to stifle the research, development and bringing to market of new medicines to help prevent and treat disease in animals. In line with the recent suggestion in the Hampton Review of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) NOAH is asking for a reduction in the frequency of a review of the Veterinary Medicine Regulations, which currently take place every year.

“While this was welcome when the Regulations were introduced, in order to ensure that the new Regulations were as effective as they could be, recent updates have seen few significant changes”, explains NOAH chief executive Phil Sketchley. “We feel that the annual review is no longer necessary”.

The manifesto also calls for support of the “1-1-1 concept” which proposes the introduction of a single market for veterinary medicines in Europe. Removing licensing barriers between countries would greatly improve the development and availability of new animal medicines. The document also questions the creation of the proposed Animal Health Organisation under the draft Animal Health Bill with no animal welfare responsibilities, stating that this could be to the detriment of animal welfare. NOAH believes that animal health and animal welfare are inextricably linked and a failure to recognise this could disadvantage both farm and companion animals.

Phil Sketchley said: “It is important that prospective candidates are aware of these issues. Safe and effective medicines are essential for the health and welfare of livestock and pets, and in turn contribute to efficient food production and people’s wellbeing.

“We hope that all candidates will take note of what we have to say and hope those that are elected will work closely with the animal health industry and support the needs of those who work to ensure their animals’ health and welfare.”

Ends

22 April 2010

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 2009 the NOAH sales survey showed a total market of £452m, around 90% of the total UK market.