Professor Peter Borriello, former chief executive of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, has become the sixth recipient of the Special NOAH Award for Contribution to Animal Health.

The award was presented by NOAH chair, Caitrina Oakes on behalf of the NOAH board and its members, at NOAH’s conference on ‘Sustainability, innovation and the role of animal health’.

Presenting the award, Ms Oakes explained how the VMD’s primary role was to protect public health, animal health and the environment, with all these intertwined.

She said: “During your tenure as chief executive, with your science-based principles and global vision, the VMD has been achieving this through being mindful of the need for a thriving UK animal health industry to innovate on a global stage.

“Times have been challenging – the UK’s exit from the EU has meant much work was needed to help ensure consistent availability of veterinary medicines to UK vets, farmers and pet owners.  In a similar manner, the Covid-19 pandemic added another, unexpected, layer of complexity to supply chains.”

Ms Oakes continued: “Responsible use of antibiotics benefits us all, with improved animal health and welfare as well as ensuring the long-term safety, efficacy and availability of authorised veterinary antibiotics.

“The VMD has been a key driver in the One Health challenge of antibiotic resistance, alongside other stakeholders such as RUMA. Under your leadership, the usage of antibiotics by UK vets and farmers has decreased substantially while measures to prevent disease, such as vaccination, have grown.”