Dear UEVP members,
March marks important progress for the veterinary profession in Europe, with key developments at EU level in both animal health and animal welfare.
The FVE published a study on the corporatisation of companion animal veterinary care, highlighting the growing influence of corporate structures and the potential implications for daily practice. Meanwhile, antimicrobial resistance remains a core concern: EFSA’s latest report outlines both progress and persistent challenges across the EU.
In the field of animal health, the EU has intensified its response to disease outbreaks across the continent. Several emergency implementing acts were adopted in March, including measures to contain sheep and goat pox in Greece , peste des petits ruminants in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, and African swine fever in Italy, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia and Germany. Additional measures target avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease, with recent cases reported in Germany and Hungary. In this context, agriculture ministers have called for stronger European coordination and support. The FVE also hosted a webinar on preparedness and response to zoonotic avian influenza spill-over, while the EFSA published new data on its circulation.
On the animal welfare front, the debate on animal transport continues within the European Parliament. At the same time, the Commissioner in charge of animal welfare confirmed the Commission’s intention to progressively phase out caged farming, sector by sector. Broader reflections are also underway regarding the use of animals in science and the strengthening of the EU’s animal welfare framework
Volker MOSER, UEVP President
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