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NOAH publishes Animal Health Manifesto
NOAH has made 15 recommendations to parliamentary candidates.
The manifesto calls for key policy pledges.

The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) has launched its Animal Health Manifesto, as political candidates continue their campaigns for the 2024 general election.

The trade association is calling for parliamentary candidates to support their key policy pledges, which it says will challenge the critical issues facing the animal health industry.

In total, NOAH has made 15 recommendations to campaigning parliamentary candidates. It has also invited the key stakeholders in the veterinary and animal industries to get involved with conversations about animal health and welfare.

Among the recommendations in NOAH’s Animal Health Manifesto 2024 is an innovative regulatory framework for animal medicines. It believes that new regulation could future-proof the development of novel products, and will ensure accessibility to effective animal medicines in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The manifesto also calls for a commitment to One Health solutions, which would see a collaboration between human, animal and environmental sectors to find solutions to One Health issues.

NOAH asks that parliamentary candidates do their parts to promote the responsible use of medicines. It says that candidates can encourage a proactive outlook on animal health and welfare, including disease prevention and medicine use.

Finally, it says political parties need to prioritise more funding towards research and development of new medicines and animal health solutions.

The association is hoping that an incoming government will learn One Health lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. This would include investments in diagnostics, disease surveillance and disease monitoring, which could protect the UK in future disease outbreaks.

Dawn Howard, NOAH chief executive, said: “We believe that these policy proposals are not only crucial for the wellbeing of animals but also for the health and prosperity of our communities and environment.

“The recommendations are designed to address the current and future challenges of the sector, ensuring a holistic One Health approach that benefits animal, human, and environmental health.

“We urge all parliamentary candidates to read our manifesto and ask the next government to support these measures to ensure a thriving animal health sector in the years to come.”

The full manifesto can be found here.

Image © Shutterstock

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Charities' XL bully neutering scheme closes

News Story 1
 A scheme that helped owners of XL bully dogs with the cost of neutering has closed to new applications due to high demand.

The scheme, run by the RSPCA, Blue Cross, and Battersea, has helped 1,800 dogs and their owners after XL bullies were banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

In England and Wales, owners of XL bully dogs which were over one year old on 31 January 2021 have until 30 June 2024 to get their dog neutered. If a dog was between seven months and 12 months old, it must be neutered by 31 December 2024. If it was under seven months old, owners have until 30 June 2025.

More information can be found on the Defra website. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu cattle outbreak spreads to tenth US state

Cattle in two dairy herds in Iowa have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), making it the tenth state in the USA to be affected by the ongoing outbreak of the disease in cattle.

Since March 2024, more than 80 herds across the USA have been affected by the virus and three dairy workers have tested positive. Authorities have introduced measures to limit the spread of the virus and farmers have been urged to strengthen their biosecurity protocols.

Mike Naig, Iowa secretary of agriculture, said: "Given the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza within dairy cattle in many other states, it is not a surprise that we would have a case given the size of our dairy industry in Iowa.

"While lactating dairy cattle appear to recover with supportive care, we know this destructive virus continues to be deadly for poultry."