AnimalhealthEurope News - Issue 8

What a year! After four years of intense negotiation, we saw the EU institutions pick up the trilogue discussions with vigour at the beginning of the year, pushing through the legislative texts on veterinary medicines and medicated feed for agreement and final adoption this past autumn. The full impact of these new rules, and whether they have achieved their objectives, is still an open book, but we thank our decision-makers for driving through this important dossier to completion within this legislative term. 

Thanks are also due for all those who contributed to our awareness-raising efforts this year. The willingness from so many people to support our message offers up a clear and resounding confirmation that #AnimalHealthMatters!

How are farmers in Europe responding to calls for reducing the need to use antibiotics in livestock production ?

High demands on livestock farming have seen a clear behavioural change when it comes to managing animal health on Europe's farms and this deserves recognition. Our last Voices of Animal Health interviewee Kees, a livestock farmer from the Netherlands, explains how he manages the health and welfare of his animals in partnership with his vet and recalls the importance of responsible use while maintaining access to antibiotics to treat his animals if they get sick. 

2019 sees us move into an election period for the EU. As AnimalhealthEurope we take this opportunity to remind potential candidates and returning officials, that Europe is the birthplace of modern veterinary medicine and is home to the world’s leading animal health companies. 

We have high hopes for Europe in terms of innovation and we have great ideas to contribute towards its future. We want to keep on playing our part in keeping Europe in a leading position when it comes to animal health, and we rely on a renewed Parliament and Commission to reinforce strong policies supporting investment in research and innovation as outlined in our 2019 Manifesto.