AMTRA celebrates its 5,000th SQP
The Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority (AMTRA) is celebrating its 5,000thSQP animal medicines advisor qualifying, with up to 750 now in equine suppliers.
As the organisation processes its largest ever batch of candidates, AMTRA Secretary General Stephen Dawson said the number of SQPs had increased from 3,500 just three years ago.
“We are seeing growth in all four sectors of SQPs activity, with around 750 working in equine suppliers, 600 in veterinary practices, 2,100 working in farm shops and country stores and 1,600 in pet shops,” he said.
“Veterinary practices continue to expand the number of SQPs they draw on, the majority being veterinary nurses but also many other practice staff. The biggest growth in SQP numbers has been in pet shops, improving the offering to customers and, I am sure, making an important contribution to improving parasite control in the nation’s pets by combining easy access with knowledgeable suppliers.”
Mr Dawson said the more traditional agricultural and equine locations for SQPs were continuing to invest in new and more staff, offering ever more opportunities for contact with farmers, horse and pet owners.
“With the Internet bringing ever-greater price transparency, quality of service including quality and depth of advice, not just on the product being sold today but on how it fits in to an effective overall strategy, is one area where physical stores can continue to more easily offer an advantage,” he said.
“These figures represented a great deal of hard work and commitment from SQPs across the animal health industry, with strong support from employers and external trainers.”
For more information visit www.amtra.org.uk or get in touch with AMTRA at info@amtra.org.uk
Issued on behalf of AMTRA by Kendalls Communications.
For further information please contact: Henry Creagh – Tel: 01394 610022
Notes for Editors
AMTRA is an independent regulatory body whose task it is to ensure that the prescription and supply of VPS animal medicines in the UK is undertaken in a responsible manner by AMTRA qualified persons. Under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations, AMTRA is the body appointed by the Secretary of State to keep a register of Suitably Qualified Persons. AMTRA's tasks include: working with Harper Adams University College to develop and maintain a qualification syllabus at Higher Education Level 4 which meets the needs of SQPs and the requirements of the Secretary of Stateworking with training centres to support course provisionprovision of information and advice to SQPsmaintenance of the Register of SQPsmonitoring and accreditation of continuing professional development for SQPsregulation of professional conduct (including powers to suspend registration or strike off the Register for misconduct). SQP animal medicine advisors are permitted under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations to prescribe and supply medicines classified as POM-VPS and NFA-VPS – these are medicines used to control and prevent effects of endemic disease in herds, flocks or individual animals, for example certain vaccines and products against internal and external parasites, where there are risks for the user/animal/consumer/environment but these can be moderated by oral & written advice from professional non-vets. There are over 5000 SQPs, all of whom have passed specifically designed Higher Education exams. Of these, almost 600 work in veterinary practices, the remainder in country stores, equine suppliers and pet shops. More about AMTRA can be found on its website at www.amtra.org.uk
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