Professor Peter Borriello awarded the Special NOAH Award for Contribution to Animal Health
14th October 2021
Professor Peter Borriello, former Chief Executive at the VMD (Veterinary Medicines Directorate), has become the 6th recipient of the Special NOAH Award for Contribution to Animal Health. The award was presented by NOAH Chair, Caitrina Oakes on behalf of the NOAH Board and its members, at NOAH’s conference on ‘Sustainability, innovation and the role of animal health’.
Presenting the award, Caitrina explained how the VMD’s primary role was to protect public health, animal health and the environment, with all these intertwined.
She said: “During your tenure as Chief Executive, with your science-based principles and global vision, the VMD has been achieving this through being mindful of the need for a thriving UK animal health industry to innovate on a global stage.
“Times have been challenging – the UK’s exit from the EU has meant much work was needed to help ensure consistent availability of veterinary medicines to UK vets, farmers and pet owners. In a similar manner, the Covid-19 pandemic added another, unexpected, layer of complexity to supply chains.
“Responsible use of antibiotics benefits us all, with improved animal health and welfare as well as ensuring the long-term safety, efficacy and availability of authorised veterinary antibiotics. The VMD has been a key driver in the One Health challenge of antibiotic resistance, alongside other stakeholders such as RUMA. Under your leadership, the usage of antibiotics by UK vets and farmers has decreased substantially while measures to prevent disease, such as vaccination, have grown.
“Of course, health challenges such as antibiotic resistance and new and emerging diseases such as Covid 19 do not respect borders, and this brings us to another milestone achievement of the VMD under your leadership, the establishment of the VMD’s Safe Medicines for Animals through regulatory training (aka SMArt) Programme charity.
“This initiative provides expert training programmes around the world to help build global capacity in responsible governance for the regulation, manufacture, distribution and use of safe and effective veterinary medicines with the associated benefits for the health and welfare of people, animals and the environment – a truly innovative approach from a regulatory authority.”
In recognition of the award, NOAH will be making a donation to the SMArt charity.
Notes for Editors
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.
For more information on SMArt (Safe Medicines for Animals through regulatory training) see https://smart-org.uk