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NOAH welcomes appointment of new AMTRA chair
Michael Seals MBE.

Michael Seals MBE takes up the post on 1 March.

The National Office for Animal Health (NOAH) has welcomed the appointment of Michael Seals MBE as chairman of the Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority (AMTRA).

In a statement, NOAH said that it looks forward to continuing its work with the sector to explore the potential to expand and leverage the knowledge of SQPs to help improve the health and welfare of animals. 

Mr Seals will take up the post on 1 March, taking over from Phil Sketchley, who is stepping down after 21 years’ service as a board member. 

A livestock and arable farmer, Mr Seals brings with him a wealth of experience in government, industry and consumer groups. He was appointed to Defra as chair of the Animal Health & Welfare Board England in 2011 and led the development of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.

NOAH chair Caitrina Oakes commented: “NOAH fully supports the current classification and distribution routes for animal health products for farm livestock, equines and companion animals. With the announcement of the new Animal Health and Welfare Pathway for England, now is a critical time to be doing all we can to highlight the importance of prevention of disease to the sustainable production of food from animals in the UK. 

“As we move towards the formal consultation on the Veterinary Medicines Regulation review, we will continue to explain the importance of both the POM-VPS and NFA-VPS routes to the health and welfare of animals, giving broader access to advice, expertise and animal health products and services. Professional advice from SQPs can help ensure responsible use: this includes using the right product at the right time and following all the instructions included with the packaging. 

“We look forward to working with Michael in his new capacity, to further these aims.”

Image (C) AMTRA.

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

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News Shorts
BBC Radio 4 documentary addresses corporate fees

BBC Radio 4's File on 4 Investigates has released a documentary exploring how corporate-owned veterinary practices may be inflating bills to increase profit.

Released on 15 April, 'What's Happening To Your Vet Bills?' revealed the policies which many corporate groups have in place to increase their profits. This included targets and upgrades which veterinary teams are tasked with meeting on a regular basis.

It also features Anrich Vets, an independently-owned practice based in Wigan. Following the case of Staffordshire terrier Benjy, who is diagnosed with a tumour, the documentary shares how the team were able to offer contextualised care and advice to make the procedure as affordable as possible for his owners.

The documentary can be heard on demand on BBC iPlayer.