NOAH WELCOMES NEW HOUSE OF LORDS REPORT AND SAYS ANIMAL MEDICINES PLAY VITAL ROLE IN WORLD FOOD SECURITY

The National Office of Animal Health has welcomed the publication of the House of Lords European Union Committee’s Report on Innovation in EU Agriculture.

The report calls for urgent action to prepare European agriculture for the future by raising productivity while supporting environmental sustainability.

NOAH Chief Executive Phil Sketchley said: “NOAH held a conference earlier this year called ‘Feeding the World’ and we looked at how those of us in the animal health industry can provide animal disease solutions to help meet the challenge of increasing demand for protein-based food, both in the developed countries and emerging nations of the world.

We had the chance to hear a number of expert speakers, and their thoughts can be viewed on NOAH’s new YouTube channel, celebrating its 25th anniversary,” he said

As spelled out in the Report, NOAH believes science has a vital role to play in the challenge of feeding the world., ”The animal medicines industry respects the need for appropriate regulation that protects human health and animal health and welfare, at the same time as allowing technological advance. Growing public confidence in scientific advancement is an important part of this – we look forward to working with others to help achieve this aim”, added Mr Sketchley.

Ends

12 July 2011

Notes for Editors

For details of the presentations and more information contact Alison Glennon, NOAH, 3 Crossfield Chambers, Gladbeck Way, Enfield, Middlesex, EN2 7HF. Tel: 020 8367 3131. Email: a.glennon@noah.co.uk. Or Kerry-Anne.Rookyard at Kendalls Communications Tel: 01394 610022 Email: Kerry-Anne.rookyard@kendallscom.co.uk

1. The National Office of Animal Health represents the UK animal medicines industry. Its aim is to promote the benefits of safe, effective, quality medicines for the health and welfare of all animals.

2. NOAH’s You Tube channel is http://www.youtube.com/user/NOAH25years

3. The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) held its fourth Food Chain conference, Feeding the World, at the Royal Society on Tuesday 15th February 2011.

• NOAH heard from Professor Andy Peters, MD of Arpexas Ltd and visiting professor at the University of Nottingham, about how existing and new animal medicines and advances in science can be used to help meet these challenges.

• Among the speakers was Dr Gabriel Oluga Aboge of the Central Veterinary Laboratory, Kabete, Kenya, who spoke about Africa’s need for a technological revolution in animal science to feed a growing population and strengthen economies that relied heavily on pastoral farming.

• Other speakers included Neil Parish MP (Former MEP and ex-Chairman of the European Agriculture and Rural Development Committee) and Professor David Leaver of the Royal Agricultural College who spoke about how technology would need to be part of the solution to increasing production to meet demands.

• George Gunn, Chief Executive of Novartis Consumer Health, spoke about the requirements of the animal health industry in terms of free innovation and allowing advances in medicines to reach markets in a sensible regulatory framework. The Chairman of the conference was former dean of Cambridge Veterinary School, Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior.