The end of 2023 was marked by several key initiatives in the animal health and welfare sector at European level. These include the publication of two pieces of legislation, one on the welfare of animals during transport and the other on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats, which will be important for our profession. They correspond to the first initiatives in the long-awaited package on the revision of EU animal welfare legislation.

Will the same approach be adopted for the other expected initiatives regarding animal breeding and killing conditions, as well as animal welfare labelling in the specific context of 2024?

Indeed, the year 2024 will be synonymous with renewal in a singular political context: the elections to the European Parliament, and more generally an institutional renewal within the European Commission and the European Council.

We will therefore have to redouble our efforts to maintain the EU priorities supported by our profession, whether in terms of animal health and welfare, and to encourage ambitious decision-making in this area.

The beginning of this year will already be characterised by the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council from January to July, will has indicated its strong commitment to the disease prevention -as part of the “One Health” initiative-, and to the fight against antimicrobial resistance, as priority in its work programme.

I wish you all a happy new year 2024 !

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