Brussels, 11/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - IFAH-Europe (the International Federation for Animal Health-Europe) representing manufacturers of veterinary medicine, vaccinations and other animal health products held its AGM in Brussels on Thursday 10 June, with a conference on the theme of animal health to feed a growing population. With the increases in the numbers of human beings around the world, the EU animal health industry is examining the role it can play in feeding them. By 2050, human food needs, including animal protein and protein derived from animals (meat, eggs, fish, dairy products and honey) is expected to double. Jeff Simmons, Chairman of Elanco Animal Health, said that a fifth of farmed animals are lost to disease and preventing and controlling existing and emerging diseases has an important role to play in preserving livestock to feed the world's growing population.
Bernard Vallat, Director General of the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE), calls for Europe to think bigger than its own borders, noting the importance of helping developing countries to develop their veterinary services and laboratories to ensure they can prevent, detect and control animal diseases. The EU is the world's biggest donor in the field of animal health and veterinary affairs, donating between US$30 million and US$50 million a year, explained Vallat. Herman Claeys, a vet working for Belgium's Permanent Representation Office to the EU, also called for solidarity, as did the Spanish representative, Valentín Almansa de Lara. The Belgian Presidency of the Council wants to focus on innovation and communication with citizens. Consumers are not aware of the high food safety standards in the EU, the only body in the world where there is harmonised legislation: “the results speak for themselves, the health situation in excellent with regard to animal health” insisted Vallat, even though he said he would like there to be an obligation with regard to the disease surveillance network to be set up on the ground because certain European countries are still experiencing shortcomings in this domain. Pekka Pesonen, Secretary General of Copa-Cogeca said that “the next challenge is to communicate on the fact that we are producing good food. It is important to sell animal health to consumers”. It is also important to raise awareness among citizens about the importance of animal health, which is linked to human health. In this connection the European Commission and Federation of European Vets are organising European veterinary week 2010, next week, on the theme of “identification and traceability in the food chain”.
Although European consumers support animal health and well-being, price is the number-one argument when making a purchase. One of the challenges in the EU is therefore to remain competitive, while keeping high standards for European products and imported products. Paola Testori-Coggi, Director General at the European Commission's Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection said that competitiveness is linked to a high level of safety and this is a single model in the world: “It is important to maintain industrial competitiveness and European agriculture; we must promote our model at a level of animal and environmental protection internationally”. (C-C.G./transl.fl)