New chair and new partner for EPRUMA

12/10/22

Brussels, 12 October 2022: EPRUMA is pleased to announce its newly elected chair Cat McLaughlin, member of the Copa Cogeca Working Party on Animal Health and Welfare and Chief Adviser for Animal Health and Welfare for the National Farmers Union (England and Wales). At the same time the platform welcomes EFFAB, the European farm animal breeders association as a new partner.

Representing the European farmers and cooperatives association Copa Cogeca, the new chair brings not only the farming experience but also several years of successfully leading the UK Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance (RUMA) covering all stages of the food chain from farm to fork.

On appointment Cat McLaughlin commented:
“The multi-stakeholder approach we are taking in Europe has led to Antibiotic Stewardship becoming a cornerstone of livestock farming today, with farmers, vets and other agricultural advisers working collaboratively to embed best practice for Responsible Use across all animal species. Efforts from the UK were recently recognised in a joint report from FAO and the UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate, and I hope that with the shared experience and knowledge highlighted in the report I can bring a further boost for good stewardship all across the wider European region.”

Joining the eight long-term partners and the five national associate partners, the newly signed up partner EFFAB also adds further expertise to the platform in the area of animal breeding.

“The principle of Responsible Use of medicines in animals is based on a holistic approach for managing animal health and welfare, and breeding plays an important role therein. Through scientific advances in animal genetics, farm animals can be bred for robustness and improved health, with greater disease resistance and consequently less need to use medicines,” commented Ana Granados, Director of EFFAB.

The new expertise alongside the new head for EPRUMA comes at a pivotal moment when the use of antibiotics in animal health is still challenged despite the successes in Responsible Use being recognised both at European and international level. The decrease by more than 43% of the overall sales of veterinary antimicrobials between 2011 and 2022, shown in the latest ESVAC report from the European Medicines Agency, is clear testimony to the efforts taken so far. EPRUMA remains committed to ensuring continued antibiotic stewardship in the animal sector and fighting antimicrobial resistance through a One Health approach that takes into account the protection of human, animal and environmental health.

Ends

Contact:  EPRUMA secretariat – info@epruma.eu

Notes for editors:

• Biography, Cat McLaughlin: Chief Adviser (Animal Health and Welfare) with the NFU and director of AMTRA (Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority). Currently also serving as Chair of the UK Responsible Use platform – RUMA, and Chair of the RUMA Targets Task Force. Her previous roles have included Scottish extension officer of the Milk Development Council and Market Information Manager of Quality Meat Scotland (QMS)/Meat and Livestock Commission (Scotland). A graduate of the University of Aberdeen (Agriculture, with Honours in Animal Science) she also holds a PG Diploma in Farm Business Organisational Management from the SRUC (formally known as the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC)), Aberdeen.
• EFFAB – the European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders – is the association representing the animal breeding and reproduction organisations and companies in Europe.
• EPRUMA is a multi-stakeholder platform linking best practice with animal health and public health. It aims to ensure best practice through responsible use of medicines in the prevention and control of animal diseases.

EPRUMA partners:

• Access VetMed: European Group for Generic Veterinary Products
• AnimalhealthEurope: The voice of the animal medicines industry
• COPA-COGECA: European Farmers and Agri-Cooperatives
• Diagnostics for Animals
• EFFAB: Animal breeding and reproduction association
• FECAVA: Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations
• FEFAC: European Feed Manufacturers Federation
• FESASS: European Federation for Animal Health and Sanitary Security
• FVE: Federation of Veterinarians of Europe

Associate partners (National Responsible Use platforms):

• AMCRA: Centre for Expertise on Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance in Animals (Belgium)
• RUMA: Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (United Kingdom)
• RUMA Companion Animal and Equine (United Kingdom)
• SDa: Veterinary Medicines Institute (The Netherlands)
• VETRESPONSABLE: Platform for the Responsible Use of Medicines in Animals (Spain)

For further information visit, www.epruma.eu