NOAH welcomes business focus of 2021 Budget to support animal health innovation
5th March 2021
Ensuring a business-first environment is imperative to support the UK post pandemic recovery and a vibrant animal health sector, says NOAH Chief Executive, Dawn Howard. NOAH welcomes measures in the 2021 Budget to support business and encourage investment in innovation.
NOAH’s priorities were that the budget should ensure viable businesses can be part of the UK’s recovery, by encouraging a business-first approach supported by Government, with measures to make the UK an attractive place for business and investment through investment in skills, further business grants and tax breaks.
The budget also marked a time for an appreciation by Government of the huge resource that many businesses have put into their EU Exit planning. For the animal health industry, this has been to ensure continued supply of animal health products and services to support both the health and welfare of our livestock industry and the nation’s companion animals. This meant increased costs and logistical and regulatory challenges, particularly with the very specific issues experienced in Northern Ireland trade.
Looking forward, the UK is internationally recognised for leadership in research, the excellence of our scientific institutions, and the innovation in our economy.
The animal health sector is no exception: our research and development base in the animal science sector is world leading, with multiple centres of excellence. Our sector can fully contribute to the Government ambition for the UK’s life-sciences powerhouse. Further innovation requires growing support, for example through tax relief so that NOAH’s members can commit to a UK future which is greener, safer and healthier than before.
The pandemic and our lockdown experiences have been a true catalyst for change and incentivising innovation will be an ongoing priority in the animal health sector. The VMD’s proposed Regulatory Science Strategy, and the forthcoming review of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations provide the opportunity to encourage this innovation through better regulatory frameworks and science-based, pragmatic policies to make product research and development in the UK world-leading.
NOAH is pleased to see the Government’s commitment in the 2021 Budget to supporting businesses through a range of economic and fiscal measures to ensure they can continue to grow and play an essential part of the UK’s recovery from coronavirus.
Additionally, NOAH is pleased to welcome the Government’s announcement to launch a formal review and consultation into R&D tax reliefs. The consultation seeks to better understand the role of R&D tax reliefs in incentivising investment in R&D. NOAH looks forward to contributing its views to the consultation which will in turn support innovation and harness scientific excellence in emerging sectors such as the animal health sector.
Chief Executive Dawn Howard commented:
“NOAH is pleased these fiscal steps have been taken in today’s budget to promote a strong environment for businesses, allowing the industry to flourish building an innovative and renewed regulatory climate where the veterinary medicine industry can be the best we can be. We look forward to working with the government to ensure the continued growth of our sector and making the UK a leader in research and development.”
Notes for Editors
For more information, please contact Jade Bennett (Bennett@plmr.co.uk) or Harriet Francis (Harriet.Francis@plmr.co.uk)
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NOAH represents the UK animal health industry. It promotes the benefits of safe, effective, quality products and services for the health and welfare of all animals.