The Independent Licenced Merchants Association (ILMA) has appointed a new secretary general of the association.

The new man, Ian Scott, is a native of Peterborough in the UK was the secretary general of AHDA (Animal Health Distributors Association) for nine years, a board member of SCOPS (Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep), and director for AMTRA (Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Association) and RUMA (Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture).

Ian comes to the ILMA with a strong background in animal medicine, having successfully fought for the rights of specially qualified professionals (SQP) in the UK to continue prescribing anti-parasitic veterinary medicines.

Scott joins the ILMA at a critical point as the future of the 1,600 responsible persons who can currently sell animal medicine is under threat from legislation currently being prepared by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.

The ILMA is currently legally challenging the Department’s interpretation of a new EU regulation that could force all farmers to pay for a prescription before buying anti-parasitic medicines such as wormers, pour-ons and fly control products.

An ILMA spokesperson said: ‘Ian has worked closely with us for the past six months on a number of issues and it is evident his depth of knowledge and experience will assist our efforts to secure a viable future for the responsible persons who play a key role in advising farmers on anti-parasitic resistance.”