March 2005      AVDA Conference l Regulatory News

                                Financial News l Member News l NAW News

AVDA Annual Conference Promotes Success Through Distribution

The AVDA 2005 Annual Conference is all about improving on and developing the relationship between distributors and manufacturers. It’s three days of networking between animal health industry distributors and manufacturers, with none of the distractions of a trade show. If growing your company through successful channel relationships is important to you, there’s no better place for you to be this April than AVDA’s Annual Conference. DETAILS

AVDA Launches New Supplier Awards Program

AVDA has introduced a brand new Supplier Awards Program for 2005. Distributors will recognize animal health product manufacturers who excel at helping wholesaler-distributors service veterinarians and animal health clinics.  DETAILS

AVDA IS Users Group to Meet at Annual Conference

The next meeting of the AVDA IS Users group will be held on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 from 8am - 12pm in conjunction with the AVDA 2005 Annual Conference. Just announced, two leaders of the AHI group, Linda Stevens (Fort Dodge) and Michael Craig (Abbott), will be attending the meeting. Steve Fowler of Henry Schein has also been invited to attend. Steve is the director representative from the AVDA board to the IS Users Group.

Agenda

• ADX Update

• FTG Presentation regarding sales data reporting

• AHI 867 Promo code and other AHI issues

• 850 810 Standards

AVDA Annual Meeting & Election of Officers to be Held in Coral Gables

AVDA will be holding its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, April 19 at 10:30 a.m. at The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida, in conjunction with its Annual Conference.

The AVDA Nominating Committee will present a slate of candidates for the 2005-2006 Board of Directors, which will be voted upon by AVDA’s membership at the April 19^th meeting.

AVDA GOVERNMENT/REGULATORY NEWS

Florida Legislation Still Needs Work

The state of Florida took a big step forward last year by recognizing that veterinary distributors can and should be regulated differently than human drug distributors. This year, HB 895 and SB 1654 have been introduced in to the Florida Legislature. AVDA members are urged to contact the legislators listed in this article to show their support for this important legislation. DETAILS

Trio of Maryland Representatives Propose Licensure Changes for Prescription Drug/Device Wholesalers

Representatives Joan Stern (D), Emmett Burns, Jr. (D), and Susan Lee (D) are sponsoring the Wholesale Prescription Drug and Device Distribution Protection and Licensing Act of 2005. The Act, House Bill 835, would significantly change licensure requirements for wholesale distributors that engage in the distribution of legend drugs or legend devices in Maryland. DETAILS

AVDA To Launch List-Serve on Government/ Regulatory Affairs

In an effort to keep up with what’s going on with governmental and regulatory issues affecting the animal health industry, AVDA has decided to establish a list-serve to help members communicate about these issues.  This list-serve is being developed as a forum for members to discuss these issues among peers. We hope to launch the list-serve in the next few months and will be sending out more information about joining in the next few weeks.

If you are interested in participating in the list-serve, contact Jackie King at AVDA Headquarters at 443-640-1040 x105 or jackie@ksgroup.org. 

Corrections Issued on Bioterrorism Act Regulations

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued final regulations on December 9, 2004 regarding record keeping requirements under the Bioterrorism Act. The regulations require those who manufacture, process, pack, transport, distribute, receive, hold or import pet food (including treats and chews) to maintain certain records.  The records must identify the immediate previous source of where the food comes from, as well as the immediate subsequent recipient. DETAILS

AVDA FINANCIAL NEWS

Is the Smart Money Really All That Smart?

In recent years a somewhat heated debate has developed regarding the most appropriate approach to improve financial performance. In simplest terms the two approaches can be thought of as an operations approach and a working capital approach.  DETAILS

AVDA Distributors Outlook Survey Upbeat for Fourth Quarter of 2004

AVDA’s Distributor Members were recently surveyed for the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2004 on their outlook for the veterinary distribution industry. Thirty percent of distributor members responded to the survey.  DETAILS

Steady Growth Ahead

Wholesale distributors should expect solid growth in 2005 as the economy continues its recovery, though the rate of growth will be slower than last year, according to one wholesale distribution consultant. DETAILS

AVDA MEMBER NEWS

Bobby Mims of Merritt Veterinary Supplies Joins AVDA Board

Bobby Mims of Merritt Veterinary Supply of Columbia, SC, was elected to the AVDA Board as an Active Member director at the January 24 board meeting in Washington, DC. Mims is filling a slot that was previously held by Bill Schmidt of Vetpo Distributors.

Mims started with Merritt Veterinary Supplies in December 1993 in the purchasing department. He eventually became the Operations Manager and is now the General Manager. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1986 and is married with two children. His hobbies outside of work are hunting and fishing and spending time with his family.

Mims has already been hard at work on behalf of AVDA, assisting the lobbyist who is working with AVDA to make changes to the Florida Pedigree law. Mims’ term on the board runs from 2005-2007.

IVAX Expands Animal Health Business; Announces Agreement to Purchase Phoenix Scientific, Inc.

IVAX Corporation announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Phoenix Scientific, Inc. Headquartered in St. Joseph, Missouri, Phoenix Scientific (Phoenix) is the industry's largest manufacturer of generic veterinary pharmaceutical formulations, with 2004 sales of over $130 million. DETAILS

Don Brown Named District Manager in the Great Northwest

Don Brown assumes the role of The Butler Company’s Northwest District Manager after being a part of the animal health industry for more than 20 years. DETAILS

Synbiotics Corporation Appoints Paul R. Hays Chief Executive Officer

Synbiotics Corporation (SBIO) announced that Paul R. Hays, its President and Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed by the Board of Directors as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Hays, who has been Synbiotics' President and Chief Operating Officer since December 2002, has executed the responsibilities of Chief Executive Officer since that time as Synbiotics has not officially had a Chief Executive Officer. DETAILS

NAW NEWS

New Business Income Tax Deduction Available for Certain U.S. Production Activities

The American Jobs Creation Act signed into law by President Bush on October 22, 2004 included a new tax benefit for certain “production activities” conducted in the United States on or after January 1, 2005.   DETAILS