NOAH comment on EMA move to Amsterdam

Following the European Union's (EU) General Affairs Council decision to move the European Medicines Agency (EMA) from London to Amsterdam, NOAH Chief executive Dawn Howard said: "We congratulate Amsterdam on its successful bid to host the EMA.  Now the agency’s destination is known, we need to ensure continuity of availability of animal medicines during the move, and into the future.”

She added: “NOAH has welcomed the UK’s stated commitment to continuing a close working relationship with the EU in relation to the EMA. We believe it is vital that both UK and EU cooperate on animal medicines safety, regulation and supply – this is urgent.  

“Animal medicines are equally subject to the stringent regulatory controls of their human counterparts, based on EU legislation, using the EMA,” she said.

“We must ensure our pets and farm animals have continued access to the best veterinary medicines to protect their health and welfare. Animals need medicines for the high standards of animal health essential for public health and food safety: the UK veterinary medicines sector is also essential for the wellbeing of the pets sharing 12 million UK households, as well as nearly 10,000 assistance animals and 1500 working dogs.
“Good animal health is key to good welfare, and keeping animals healthy is key to public health too. Our future regulatory model and relationship with both the EU and international partners will be critical to the health of us all,” she said.

-ends-

For further information please contact Alison Glennon or Dawn Howard at NOAH 020 8367 3131 or email a.glennon@noah.co.uk.

About NOAH

1.                        NOAH 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. For further information, please visit: www.noah.co.uk