EU agriculture ministers took stock at their meeting in Luxembourg on Monday 12 June of the expert examination of the proposal on veterinary medicines.
Estonia said that it would work to achieve agreement in Council on this issue before the end of its presidency (end of 2017). This would allow negotiations with the European Parliament to begin (see EUROPE 11509).
France highlighted two points which it sees as important: - robust measures are needed to combat antibiotic resistance and these measures must be applied to imported foodstuffs (fairness of treatment between European production and imports from third countries); - veterinary medicines must not be available for purchase on the internet (prescription needed).
The Belgian minister also emphasised efforts to combat antibiotic resistance and the wide availability and correct use of veterinary medicines. “Current supply chains, through vets, must not be changed”, he said.
The Netherlands, Denmark and Germany stressed the need to reduce resistance to antibiotics and to have ambitious measures in this area. The use of antibiotics on animals needs to be reduced, said the Danish minister. Spain argued for a text that was balanced for all countries of the EU.
Elsewhere, the Czech Republic raised the issue of bee health. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)