Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru | National Assembly for Wales

Y Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd, Amgylchedd a Materion Gwledig | Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee

Fframweithiau cyffredin y DU ar amaethyddiaeth a’r amgylchedd | UK common frameworks on agriculture and environment

UK 09

Ymateb gan : Swyddfa lechyd Anifeiliaid Genedlaethol (NOAH)

Evidence from : National Office of Animal Health (NOAH)

Executive Summary:

· Veterinary medicines must continue to have a UK wide legislative framework in place to preserve the availability of the medicines as the UK exits from the EU and markets become fragmented and unsustainable.

· Any divergences within the UK in the underlying regulatory framework that supports the market for veterinary medicines will increase the risk to medicine availability, particularly for minor species such as sheep. A UK wide regulatory framework for veterinary medicines must be retained to ensure products remain available.

· Animal health and welfare policy requires a common UK wide legislative approach to protect against disease that do not respect borders and to uphold best practice in animal welfare.

NOAH has been representing the companies that research, develop, manufacture and market licensed animal medicines in the UK since 1986. The industry is highly regulated and our aim is to promote the benefits of safe, effective, quality medicines for the health and welfare of all animals – both farm animals and pets. The association’s membership represents over 90% of the UK animal medicines market worth in excess of £630 million per annum (2017) and directly supporting 2,000 highly skilled jobs, as well as indirectly supporting 19,000 vets, over 6,000 qualified animal health advisors (SQPs), over 11,000 veterinary nurses and thousands of livestock farmers and people involved in pet and equine care, sports and leisure.

1. In which policy areas, within the remit of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, are legislative and non-legislative common frameworks needed? Does the provisional assessment published by the UK Government set out an appropriate approach and is it complete? Do you have any specific concerns about the proposed categorisation?

In the provisional assessment published by the UK Government, the following policy areas with Defra as the responsible UK Government Department require a cohesive, common legislative framework to protect the health and welfare of animals throughout the UK.

· Animal health and traceability: policy in this areas needs to continue to provide suitable protections for all animals, including livestock, in the UK. This includes the prevention and control of disease and legislation on veterinary medicines.

· Animal welfare: animal welfare policy must reflect a science based animal welfare approach that allows all animals to benefit from contemporary understanding. This also means that a UK wide approach will be appropriate in addressing various aspects of animal welfare. Securing a common approach to animal health will also contribute to a more consistent outcomes for animal welfare.

2. How should both the legislative and non-legislative frameworks be developed and implemented?

The development and implementation of legislation that protects animal health and welfare throughout the UK should include an appropriate consultation process, including timescales that allows meaningful contributions from stakeholders. Co-operation and agreement between administrations is needed on key topics that span borders and impact countries similarly.

3. How prescriptive should the common frameworks be and how much discretion should each administration have within the frameworks?

There are clear areas, related to animal health and welfare e.g. on veterinary medicines and animal welfare principles, where it makes no sense to take a non-harmonised or devolved approach. The UK market for veterinary medicines will soon sit outside the larger and more sustainable EU market. This reduced market size risks further fragmentation with administrations taking difference approaches. The consequence of the veterinary medicine market no longer meeting a minimum and sustainable size risks the availability of medicines for animals throughout the UK.