NOAH’s inaugural Brexit Barometer report has revealed that optimism and uncertainty are vying for position on the future of the animal medicines industry in the UK.

The report was developed following the set-up of NOAH’s Brexit Taskforce and a Brexit workshop event where NOAH members and stakeholders representing 16 organisations came together to discuss and debate the impact of the EU exit on the animal medicines sector.

The findings revealed that while there were clear levels of optimism from the majority when it comes to animal health and welfare, 40 per cent said they felt ‘somewhere in the middle’ when asked to declare whether they felt optimistic or pessimistic about the overall future of the industry.

With 35 per cent feeling optimistic and 25 per cent feeling pessimistic, steering members and stakeholders towards optimism through a collaborative relationship with the Government becomes fundamental to the future success of the industry.

Dawn Howard, NOAH’s chief executive, said: “When we set up our Brexit Taskforce in 2016, our priority was to ensure we continue to support and champion a vibrant and innovative animal health market, supporting UK farming and pet ownership, in which our members can thrive.

“Although we’re delighted to see that there is a degree of optimism among our diverse audiences, we are very conscious of the need to translate the largest proportion (40 per cent) of undecided respondents into positive sentiment to enable us to capitalise on Brexit despite the uncertain political climate.

“People are ready to embrace Brexit, providing our needs are recognised. This is promising given the scale of the task ahead of us and the need to work collaboratively to deliver the opportunities that we have identified. We look forward to working closely with our members, stakeholders and Government as negotiations unfold in the coming weeks and months.”