Global Conference on Vet Legislation
OIE Conference on Veterinary Legislation
The First Global Conference regarding Veterinary Legislation focused on several challenges posed by the improvement of national animal health and welfare systems worldwide.The conference, which was organised by the OIE in Djerba, took place in Tunisia from 7 to 9 of December 2010. It was deemed successful in highlighting the significance of veterinary legislation as a cornerstone of national veterinary good governance and infrastructures. Too many countries in the world - especially developing countries - lack updated veterinary legislation to address today's animal health and welfare challenges and those of the future.
The OIE Director General, Dr. Bernard Vallat stated that: “The OIE does not prescribe the model of national veterinary legislation but we encourage governments to modernize their national veterinary legislation through compliance with OIE standards and guidelines, allowing Member Countries to face new threats linked with globalization, climate change and with the emergence and reemergence of animal diseases, including those transmissible to humans”.
The Conference was successful in reaching its objectives:
• raise awareness of the requirements for good governance of animal health and welfare systems and effective veterinary legislation, which covers all matters under the OIE mandate, including animal health, veterinary public health and animal welfare;
• provide practical guidance on how OIE Members (particularly developing countries) can mobilize governments for:
• modernizing national veterinary legislation in line with OIE standards and guidelines,
• educating veterinarians in the public and private sector on their role and responsibilities according to the national legal framework and,
• promoting the key role of veterinary statutory bodies in implementing critical components of veterinary legislation.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
