John FitzGerald awarded the Special NOAH Award for Contribution to Animal Health

John FitzGerald, former Secretary General of RUMA (the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance) and Operations Director at the VMD (Veterinary Medicines Directorate), has become the 4th recipient of the Special NOAH Award for the Contribution to Animal Health.

Announcing his recognition at the NOAH Dinner in London on 30 October, NOAH Vice Chair Jamie Brannan said: “During John’s time at RUMA, the alliance transformed from an advisory organisation to really driving change across the main livestock sectors in terms of antibiotic use, with the farming and veterinary world showing leadership in the antibiotic resistance debate. Some of his highlights included two major RUMA conferences, based around progress made on the RUMA-coordinated action plan for the livestock sector, as part of the implementation of the Government’s AMR Strategy. NOAH’s own AMBP project is part of that plan.

“RUMA spoke out during John’s tenure, to address misconceptions about how antibiotics are actually used on farms. While not discounting the good practice already in place, there was a significant breakthrough in responsible use of antibiotics in UK farming while John was at the RUMA helm: this continues under new Secretary General Chris Lloyd.

As a true ‘Antibiotic Guardian’ our sector, and wider society, is grateful to John, with his logical, pragmatic yet innovative approach”.

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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 health industry. It promotes the benefits of safe, effective, quality products and services for the health and welfare of all animals. For further information, please visit: www.noah.co.uk
2.The previous recipients of the award were Dr Tony Andrews, Philip Sketchley and Dr Peter Silley