20
In this issue
Message from the Managing Director
IFAH-Europe conference: One-one-one a win-win-win for all for the 2012 regulatory review
IFAH-Europe at European Parliament Intergroup on climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development: Invasive species
4th EU Vet Week: «‘Vaccination to live’ concept would improve animal welfare, food security and help combat food crises”, says IFAH-Europe
New Publication: Good Veterinary Pharmacovigilance Practice Guide 2011
«Reasons for Hope»: Dr. Jane Goodall adresses European Parliament
Message from the Managing Director

Dear Reader,

At our conference on June 16th, the European Commission referred to the need to increase availability of veterinary medicines by completing the single market in this sector. Every vet, farmer and pet owner should have every medicine available to them in every part of the European Union. The European Commission also spoke about the need to reduce the administrative burden. It is interesting to note that one of the greatest burdens relates to the cost of packaging and labelling! We can reduce this burden quite simply by minimising the information on the label to that which is absolutely necessary and with the use of pictograms, we can avoid the need for translation – all other information can be included in a pack insert in the appropriate language.

Another message that came from our conference is the broad agreement never to repeat work and to ensure that all decisions have application across the European Union – this will also greatly help to reduce the administrative burden.

As may be appreciated, we can achieve a lot by making simple changes to the legislation. We look forward to your support in advocating a common sense approach.    

The public response to the consultation in relation to the Medicated Feed legislation was fantastic with over 250 submissions received! We support the European Commission in its efforts to ensure that medicated feed can be practically provided to farmers to protect the health and so welfare of their animals across the European Union – again a single market issue.


As mentioned in the previous edition, we welcome the European Parliament Resolution on antibiotics. It strikes a balance between the need for these products to protect the health and so welfare of animals whilst also recognising that we need to use them responsibly. As IFAH-Europe, we have a goal to ensure that antibiotics work now and in 20 years time. We promote Responsible Use via EPRUMA www.epruma.eu and we support the use of diagnostics to guide future use. We support strict adherence to use according to the label and the ‘cascade’ which provides limited discretion to the vet. We look forward to the European Commission communication expected in November providing orientation for future policy direction.

In a debate that is fuelled by emotion, it is important to identify any problems that exist and focus our action on addressing those problems. In this way, we ensure Responsible Use and move towards our goal of ensuring that antibiotics work in 20 years time.

Wishing you an enjoyable and relaxing summer break over the next couple of months. 

Declan O’ Brien
IFAH-Europe
Managing Director
IFAH-Europe conference: One-one-one a win-win-win for all for the 2012 regulatory review

As a Commission proposal for significantly revised legislation governing the authorisation of veterinary medicinal products is expected in 2012, IFAH-Europe organised the first public “big debate” about the future legislation for all parties involved. This year’s conference was a fantastic success and was seen by the participants as one of the highlights of the Brussels calendar for veterinary medicines.

All agreed that a simplification of the legislation is needed and had a lively exchange about the consequences this review will have for the future of animal health in Europe.

European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy John Dalli honoured the conference with his presence, stressing the importnace of the veterinary medicines review for his Directorate General. The commissioner explained that the review is an opportunity for the European Commission to apply its “better regulation” principles: “The ongoing review of the veterinary medicinal products legislation exemplifies our SMART Regulation programme. We hope to finally achieve a single EU market for veterinary medicines and to simplify the marketing authorisation procedures. We see strong possibilities to make a good contribution to the reduction of the administrative burden for national competent authorities, veterinarians and manufacturers – in other words a win-win-win situation.”

IFAH-Europe’s conference will be back next year in late spring, hoping to offer the animal health sector another fruitful forum.

Read more in our press release and see the speakers' biographies and presentations online. A video report will soon be available on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/ifaheurope


 

IFAH-Europe at European Parliament Intergroup on climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development: Invasive species

Viruses, bacteria and parasites affecting animal health should also be taken into account when tackling invasive species in the European Union.  Declan O’Brien, Managing Director of the European Federation for Animal Health-Europe was one of the invited speakers at a European Parliament hearing on the challenge of invasive species and destructive insects.

“Viruses are the biggest threat when it comes to animal health, followed by bacteria and parasites. The European Animal Health industry has spearheaded ground-breaking approaches to pool research and innovation across the European Union and ensure we are ready to prevent or, when needed, cure those new diseases”, said Declan O’Brien.

The ETPGAH (European Technology Platform for Global Animal health) and DISCONTOOLS (DISease CONtrol TOOLS) allow the industry, researchers and funders to agree on the most important animal diseases, identify research gaps and direct research towards filling those gaps. More information can be found on www.etpgah.eu and www.discontools.eu
The event was organised by the European Parliament Intergroup on climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development, and by its committee Chair MEP Gaston Di Franco (France). Recognising that the well-being of humankind is severely affected by climate change and the loss of global biodiversity, the Intergroup on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development aims to constitute a cross-sectoral political platform to lead the integration of these issues in the legislative activity of the European Parliament.

Read our press release.

European Parliament Intergroup on climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development website 

4th EU Vet Week: «‘Vaccination to live’ concept would improve animal welfare, food security and help combat food crises”, says IFAH-Europe

The European Commission Directorate-General for Health & Consumer Policy (DG SANCO) organised its 4th EU Vet Week conference in late May. This year was dedicated to crisis management in the food chain and aimed at raising awareness on EU preparedness to manage a food safety crisis and the role of veterinarians.

IFAH-Europe Managing Director Declan O’Brien was one of the speakers and called for the concept of “vaccination to live” to be applied by all.  “We can do it better in the future”, said IFAH-Europe Managing Director Declan O’Brien. “But every stakeholder along the food chain has a responsibility to ensure we enforce the concept of ‘Vaccination to live’ – I cannot over stress the fact that produce from vaccinated animals is perfectly safe. The animal health industry is committed to providing safe and effective products to protect animal welfare, food security and fight food crises and calls for the EU to ensure legislation facilitates a rapid response to the arrival of new diseases. Mass slaughter of animals must be avoided whenever possible by using vaccines as and when appropriate."

The 4th EU Veterinary Week conference this year was part of the World Veterinary Year (www.vet2011.org), a worldwide selection of events under the motto "Vets in your daily life".  EU Vet Week, co-organised by DG SANCO, the Federation of Veterinarians Europe (FVE) and COPA-COGECA (the European federation representing farmers and cooperatives) is one of the highlights of the calendar of veterinary events in the EU.

IFAH-Europe press release.

Press release issued by DG SANCO

Watch Commissioner John Dalli addressing the Conference and visiting the exhibition on the occasion of EU Veterinary Week 2011, as well as the video featured on SancoVetChannel

New Publication: Good Veterinary Pharmacovigilance Practice Guide 2011

IFAH-Europe is pleased to present the Good Veterinary Pharmacovigilance Practice Guide 2011. This new best practice guide has been specifically written for anyone in industry involved in veterinary pharmacovigilance. It follows the 2004 edition, which was completely reviewed to reflect the many changes to the regulatory environment in the last years.

Get an online preview of the guide on ifaheurope.org. Hardcopies can be obtained from the IFAH-Europe secretariat by filling and returning this order form.

«Reasons for Hope»: Dr. Jane Goodall adresses European Parliament

Dr. Jane Goodall, renowned primatologist, was invited by the European Parliament Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals. The Jane Goodall Institute is a global nonprofit that empowers people to make a difference for all living things.

Dr. Goodall gave us one major reason for hope when she recalled the audience that there should «not fear new technolgies» but that instead we should all «believe that they are there to improve our futures, our healths and the environment».

Dr. Goodall was also there to introduce her Roots and Shoots programme, engaging and inspiring youth through community service and service learning.

http://www.rootsandshoots.org/