FVE has launched the Animal Health Visits Campaign.
In 2016, the European Union adopted the ‘Animal Health Law’, and Article 25 laid down requirements for all operators (from production animals to companion animals) to ensure that their establishments receive regular animal health visits from a veterinarian.
These ‘animal health visits’ should be implemented in all EU countries by April 2021 to strengthen animal health by improving disease prevention, through enhanced biosecurity, and early disease detection. Regular animal health visits have great potential to improve animal health and welfare, reduce the use of antibiotics and enhancing simultaneously sustainability and profitability.
With the support of its members, FVE investigated the situation and established a country score based on the criteria laid out in the FVE position paper.
The aim of FVE campaign is:
- To move from curative towards preventive veterinary livestock services
- To strengthen preventive animal health by improving disease prevention, through enhanced biosecurity, and disease detection.
- To improve animal health and welfare, reduce the use of antimicrobials and enhance simultaneously sustainability and economic efficiency.
- To make sure all operators have a dedicated veterinarian who regularly visits the establishment to ensure preventive health care for the animals
- To encourage all Member States to implement regular veterinary visits as required by the Law.
———————————————————-Regular Animal Health Visits have great potential to reduce the use of antibiotics and enhance simultaneously sustainability and economic efficiency (i.e., effective use of resources reduced production costs, reduced climate/environmental impact thus consumer reassurance)