Written by Alistair Driver
Catherine (Cat) McLaughlin, the NFU’s chief animal health and welfare adviser, has been appointed as the new chair of the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA) alliance.
Formerly deputy chair of the organisation, she takes over from Gwyn Jones, who has stepped down after six years in the role, with NOAH chief executive Dawn Howard appointed as new deputy chair.
The elections took place at RUMA’s annual general meeting in London on March 4. Ms McLaughlin, who is also a director of AMTRA (Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority), said she was stepping into the chair’s position at a time of emerging challenges.
The agriculture and food industry alliance has played a leadership role in improving antibiotic stewardship and driving down antibiotic usage across the sectors, not least pigs. Overall livestock industry antibiotic usage has dropped by 53% since 2014.
Through the RUMA Targets Task Force, the livestock industry is currently working on reaching a number of sector-specific targets for reducing, refining or replacing antibiotic use for the next four years by the end of 2020. The new set of post-2020 targets will be released by the end of the year.
Ms McLaughlin said: “Over the past six years, the UK livestock industry has secured remarkable progress in voluntarily improving antibiotic stewardship, halving use to achieve some of the lowest sales in Europe both overall and of highest-priority Critically Important Antibiotics.
“However, there’s more to do. New challenges are emerging all the time – including resistance to other medicines such as anthelmintics, novel scientific research that will inform changes in practices, and rapidly-evolving political, climatic and social environments.
“Steering the livestock sectors through this will continue to be RUMA’s remit. I look forward to bringing my knowledge and experience – alongside that of my new deputy chair Dawn, the members of the RUMA board and the Independent Scientific Group – to help the livestock industries face these challenges.”
Ms McLaughlin paid tribute to ‘transformational’ leadership of Gwyn Jones over the past six years, which has helped the UK take a global leadership position in voluntary stewardship of antibiotics in agriculture.
Mr Jones has been co-opted onto the RUMA board for a handover period, to help the delivery of a number of projects, including the new antibiotic use targets 2021-2024 and discussions with the newly-formed Food Industry Initiative on Antimicrobials (FIIA).
“We’re delighted to be retaining his expertise during this period,” added Ms McLaughlin.
New deputy chair Dawn Howard, who is chief executive of NOAH, said she was honoured to take on the role and looked forward to working with Ms McLaughlin and other new colleagues at RUMA.
“My ambition is that we continue to deliver and build on our success in raising the standards of responsible use of medicines for the benefit of farm animals in the UK,” said Ms Howard.
PrintEmail
SHARE.Twitter Facebook Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ALISTAIR DRIVER
Editor of LBM titles Pig World and Farm Business and group editor of Agronomist and Arable Farmer. National Pig Association’s webmaster. Previously political editor at Farmers Guardian for many years and also worked Farmers Weekly. Occasional farming media pundit. Brought up on a Leicestershire farm, now work from a shed in the garden in Oxfordshire. Big fan of Leicester City and Leicester Tigers. Occasional cricketer.
RELATED ARTICLES
George Eustice and Minette Batters at the 2020 NFU Conference
MARCH 5, 2020
‘This will test the moral compass of Government’ – Eustice challenged on import standards
abattoir workers
MARCH 5, 2020
Higher prices drive increased spend on pig meat, despite big drop in pork and bacon volumes
Main ASF pic
MARCH 5, 2020
China research body’s ASF vaccine is ‘promising’ for commercial production
RECENT POSTSWHAT’S TRENDING?
Cat McLaughlin, left, and Dawn Howard
MARCH 6, 2020
RUMA announces new leadership team
NPA chief executive Dr Zoe Davies
MARCH 6, 2020
Preparing for coronavirus and ASF
Outdoor farrowing paddocks with good green cover help to reduce surface run-off
MARCH 6, 2020
The mutual benefits of outdoor pig production
CURRENT PIG INDUSTRY JOBS
Farm Worker – Ref 799 Yorkshire
North Yorkshire Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
Full Time
Outdoor Pig Breeding Stockperson – Ref 798 Suffolk
Suffolk Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
Full Time
Outdoor Pig Breeding Stockperson
Suffolk – Bury St Edmunds area
Full Time
Find out about Yorkshire Farmers
FIND PIG INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS
Company Name
Business Category
GET OUR E-NEWSLETTER – Pig Worl
Get Our E-Newsletter - breaking news to your in-box twice a week
See e-newsletter example
Will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy
Continue reading on the Farm Business Website...