Today, we honour the legacy of Karel Van Noppen, an official veterinarian whose unwavering commitment to upholding veterinary integrity cost him his life. In 1995, Van Noppen had been investigating illegal practices of banned growth hormone use on livestock in Belgium and was shot dead by assailants outside his house on the 20 February, exactly 30 years ago.
Despite progress over the past 30 years, the threats to official veterinarians persist. Just last month, an Italian official veterinarian was brutally attacked – strangled and repeatedly stabbed – while carrying out an inspection in a slaughterhouse. While in recent years, Irish veterinary inspectors were repeatedly physically attacked by a farmer, Norwegian public officials were threatened with a rifle during animal welfare inspections and a Flemish inspector was beaten during an inspection of neglected companion animals.
These shocking incidents serve as a stark reminder that violence and intimidation against veterinarians remain an urgent issue, demanding immediate action. A Finnish study analysing animal welfare inspections found that veterinarians reporting animal abuse were found to be especially at risk. These stories are only the tip of the iceberg, and much too often marginalised and underreported by the media and consequently generally unknown by society.
Whereas national legislative measures, e.g. in Norway and most recently in Italy, have strengthened the support and protection of official veterinarians, those working in the field – often in isolated or hostile conditions – continue to be vulnerable.
FVE and EASVO fully support veterinarians in their work at the last line of defence for animal welfare, food safety, and public health. Their work in supervision, disease prevention, and fraud detection is indispensable, a strict policy against all forms of violence should be upheld and supported at all levels. Official Vets, such as our esteemed colleague Karel Van Noppen, are the gate keepers of both animal and public health.
FVE and EASVO call for an urgent dialogue around the critical importance of veterinary professionals and their protection. Governments and policymakers must act now with concrete measures to ensure that those safeguarding animal and public health are themselves protected.
Today, we celebrate not just the memory of Karel Van Noppen but the resilience and integrity of all official veterinarians who continue to stand for transparency, public health and animal welfare. Their courage and dedication must not only be commemorated but actively supported every day. Let this be a rallying call for stronger protections, greater awareness, and a future where veterinarians can perform their vital work without fear or the risk of reprisals.
The FVE and EASVO Board
Brussels, 20 February 2025
