EU Vet Week
Since the '90s when BSE and other animal diseases were delivering severe blows to industry and consumer confidence alike, the European Union has come a long way in its efforts to reinforce Animal Health and Food Safety. Traceability, the ability to follow animals or food products throughout their lifecycle –from the moment they are born or produced till they end up in our plate: from farm to fork– has been at the forefront of these efforts. These issues will be at the heart of this year's EU Veterinary Week (EVW), which starts on Monday, June 14, and ends on Sunday, June 20. A two-day conference on identification and traceability along the food chain will kick off this year's EVW.
Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli said: "Today, we take it for granted that we know the full history of a piece of beef or that we can trace individual sheep in the EU and food products throughout the whole food chain. This level of animal health protection and food safety was not achieved overnight. It took years to arrive at a robust and comprehensive legal framework and to develop the necessary tools that would strengthen our food chain". The Commissioner added: "The 2010 Veterinary Week will highlight these achievements, in particular traceability."
The main aim of the traceability conference on 14/15 June is to outline the benefits of identification and traceability. Among the topics to be covered during the conference are Animal Health (including zoonoses), disease prevention and control, food safety and quality, labelling, consumer confidence, animal welfare and crisis management.
Among the expected 400 or so participants there will be representatives from the Member States – including Chief Veterinary Officers, Members of the European Parliament, representatives from the Veterinary and Medical Associations, scientific experts and representatives of farmers' associations.
Before the conference's opening session, Commissioner Dalli and the Director General of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Bernard Vallat will sign a Memorandum of Understanding. It aims to facilitate the attainment of common communication goals for the World Veterinary Year "Vet2011," which will be celebrated next year.
During this year's EVW a number of events will take place in EU Member States and will be organised by the competent authorities, veterinary associations and EU veterinary faculties. During these events, information concerning identification and traceability will be distributed together with EU veterinary diaries for the academic year 2010-2011. Their goal is to encourage discussions between veterinary and agricultural students and better co-operation between professionals of the two fields.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
