Suitably Qualified Persons to supply vet medicines would rather be known as 'Registered Animal Medicines Advisors'.

When the government relaxed the rules on who could prescribe vet medicines, the 'SQP' term was coined to denote a agricultural merchant with the necessary certification to sell those products direct to farmers. But the name hasn't stuck, and the Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority would like to see it changed.

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AMTRA secretary general Stephen Dawson said: “We are delighted to see so many other industry organisations, bodies and animal health companies now adopting the title RAMA and wanting to help the push for an official name change.

“This is a subject that has been on our radar for some time, as we do not feel the name SQP reflects the abilities of those that have passed through the training and qualification, and also maintain their CPD and on-going learning. Animal owners do not understand the initials ‘SQP’ but nor do they understand ‘Suitably Qualified Person’ which is very vague.

“Registered Animal Medicines Advisor, or RAMA, more accurately qualifies the important role these individuals play in part of a wider animal health plan, and we are pleased to see the enthusiasm across the sector to support the move,” he adds.

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There has been growing use of the term from various industry bodies including AHDA, NADIS, SCOPS, and COWS. Vetskill, as a fellow regulator, has confirmed its longstanding support for such a change. Global animal health business Zoetis has recently launched RAMA Connect, a new platform to help meet the business needs of RAMAs through training tools, seasonal campaigns and various other resources to help RAMAs make the most of their role.