The Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations (Fecava) held its Council meeting early September, on the eve of the 2025 EuroCongress. Ann Criel, freshly elected president, reports on highlights of recent developments.
Certificates for general practitioners
A scoop is the creation of Fecava GP certificates. ‘In many European countries, there’s a big gap between first-line practitioners and EBVS-level specialists, without an intermediary level like there is in Germany or Belgium,’ Ann Criel explains. Under the leadership of Stephan Neumann (Germany) and Dennis Novak (Serbia), three Fecava GP certificates are now being created: general practice, internal medicine and surgery.
Applications based on experience and CE records
Starting January 2026, applications will be evaluated based on experience and continuing education (CE) records. Exams, with a theoretical and a practical part, will be held twice yearly. ‘This is of particular interest for central and Eastern European countries where no mid-tier level certificate exists,’ adds Ann. A Fecava pain certificate will also be created, in collaboration with Paulo Steagall.
Focus on mental health
‘Mental health is one of our focus areas, and we’ve produced a range of tools and are working closely together with VetJoy.’ In the coming years, Fecava will be working together closer with the Not One More Vet (NOMV) initiative and will initiate a project on menopause. ‘This is of particular importance now that the majority of companion animal vets are female.’ The Federation will also be working on a mental health emergency tool, together with veterinary nurses.
Veterinary nurses: work in progress
A joint session with nurses and vets was also held at congress. ‘Our professions have much in common but each have their own mental health issues which should be better represented.’ There’s still much work to be done, she added. 'Accreditation of their education as done by Acovene is vital – but so is support of an official recognition and protection of the veterinary nurse title and better working conditions through collective labour agreements.’
Sustainability
Sustainability is another hot topic for Fecava. At congress, a full stream was dedicated to sustainable veterinary practice, with a round table on how to reduce the ecological footprint of veterinary care. An online congress on sustainability, organised in July by the German veterinary student organisation, was supported by Fecava.
A congress every other year
‘As part of our sustainability goal, Fecava has decided to only hold congresses every other year, once in conjunction with WSAVA – which decided on a European location every 4 years – and once in Antwerp. The city is easy to get to by train or plane, has many affordable hotels and restaurants, and the historic zoo next to the station is a perfect setting.’ And in-between congresses, ‘our resources will be dedicated to visit other events or to support a local event in one of our member countries.’
A new brand identity
The new format also comes with new brand identify on the occasion of its thirtieth anniversary, with a stylised dog’s head and cat’s nose. ‘The clean, sleek look, keeps the same colours but enhances our mission, values, and the strong community of companion animal veterinarians across Europe.’
Healthy breeding in the spotlight
Regarding animal welfare, ‘our current focus is on the proposed EU Regulation on breeding and traceability of pets. Together with our colleagues from the KNMvD, we had two half-day streams dedicated to healthy breeding.’ Speakers included Hille Fieten and Paul Mandigers, both experts of the recently created Expertise centre for veterinary genetics of companion animals at Utrecht University.
New member and individual membership
On a membership level, Klivet became Fecava’s second member association from Turkey (after TSAVA). Furthermore, an individual membership category has been created for colleagues whose national association is not Fecava member (e.g. Italy, Spain). Individual members have access to the closed part of the website and benefit from membership advantages but have no voting rights.
And also...
The event was also the occasion for a focus group meeting on Infection Prevention and Control in pets in collaboration with the FVE and representatives of the UEVP and Fecava in the EU-JAMRAI 2 framework. The next Fecava congress will be held jointly with WSAVA and PSLWMZ, in Warsaw, Poland, from 13-15 October 2026.
(photo ©Karin de Lange)