AMTRA celebrates its 5000th SQP

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The Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority (AMTRA) is celebrating its 5,000th SQP animal medicines advisor qualifying, as the organisation deals with 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 2,100 working in farm shops and country stores, 1,600 in pet shops, 750 in equines suppliers and 600 in veterinary practices,” he said.

“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. Veterinary practices continue to expand the number of SQPs they draw on, the majority being also veterinary nurses but also many other practice staff.”

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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