A recent press release confirmed that the vaccine stickers in the vaccination certificate of a dog that died of rabies in Germany in January 2026 were counterfeit. This is the conclusion reached by MSD’s forensic laboratory in Schachen, Switzerland. The investigation was commissioned by the authorities in connection with a recent rabies case in Rhineland-Palatinate. The analysis of the vaccination stickers was carried out by specialized experts at MSD’s in-house forensic laboratory to verify the authenticity of the submitted vaccination labels and to support the responsible authorities in their investigation. FVE urges all members to raise awareness and notify any fraudulent activities to their national competent authority. This can allow the Commission and national authorities to share alerts, flag cases of non-compliance and coordinate investigations.
In June this year, the European Commission presented the annual report of this Alert and Cooperation Network (ACN) detailing how Member States work together and exchange information on official controls in the agri-food sector. The report now also includes animal welfare and pet animal fraud. The Animal Welfare Network has completed its first full year of activity, and it has already proved very active, especially on cross-border transport cases. With the introduction of new EU rules on dog and cat welfare, the network is expected to become an important instrument for tackling illegal trade and combatting document fraud.
At the FVE General Assembly in November, FVE will have a dedicated presentation of the Europe Commission on its activities in fighting illegal pet trade.
