AnimalhealthEurope represents the manufacturers of veterinary medicines, vaccines and other animal health products operating in Europe. Our sector is inherently global, with research, development, manufacturing and supply chains stretching across multiple regions of the world. AnimalhealthEurope represents companies that produce and invest in Europe, regardless of where their global headquarters may be located. Through our direct company members and our national association members, which include a broad range of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), AnimalhealthEurope represents well over 90% of the EU animal health market.

As the European Union reflects on how to strengthen its industrial base and strategic resilience, it is important to recognise the essential role played by the animal health sector. Europe is facing an increasing number and frequency of animal disease outbreaks, including highly pathogenic avian influenza, African swine fever, bluetongue virus, Newcastle disease and foot-and-mouth disease. These outbreaks have significant consequences for human health (zoonoses), animal welfare, food production, food security, rural economies and trade.

The need for strong disease preparedness and prevention systems has never been greater[1].

Policymakers and stakeholders increasingly acknowledge that vaccination, biosecurity, surveillance and other preventive animal health tools are central to building a more resilient livestock sector and reducing the impact of disease outbreaks. Both the Commission report on the evaluation of the Animal Health Law[2] and the EU Livestock Strategy[3] recognise the crucial role of disease prevention, surveillance, early detection and effective disease management.

Against this backdrop, maintaining a strong European animal health innovation and manufacturing base is of strategic importance. Veterinary medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and other animal health technologies are essential tools for detecting, monitoring, preventing and, where necessary, managing animal disease outbreaks. Animal health solutions support the 300,000 veterinarians in Europe dependent on medicines for their daily work[4], they help 139 million EU households with pets[5], and support the 3 million farms with livestock[6] in keeping their animals protected against disease. Without continued access to innovative animal health products, the EU’s ability to safeguard animal health, food security and public health will be weakened.

Europe’s leadership in animal health innovation and production cannot be taken for granted. Companies make long-term investment decisions based on the attractiveness and predictability of the business environment. If Europe wants to remain a global centre for animal health innovation and manufacturing, it must provide a competitive and conducive framework that ensures continuous access to all the elements needed to produce animal health products, and also encourages investment in research, development and production. This requires policies that reward innovation, support advanced manufacturing, facilitate regulatory efficiency and strengthen Europe’s overall competitiveness.

At the same time, discussions around a “Made in Europe” approach must reflect the realities of modern pharmaceuticals, including biomanufacturing. The production of veterinary medicines and vaccines relies on highly specialised, global supply chains. In some cases, certain active substances, biological materials or critical inputs are currently not available or cannot feasibly be produced within the European Union. This reality applies not only to animal health products but across the broader life sciences sector, and the “Made in Europe” concept should not become and opportunity rather than an obstacle to manufacturing in Europe.

For this reason, AnimalhealthEurope supports a pragmatic and internationally competitive interpretation of the “Made in Europe” concept. The focus should be on creating a favourable environment in Europe for the production of elements needed to manufacture animal health products, while ensuring that high-value activities, including final manufacturing processes, are carried out in Europe, even when certain upstream inputs originate elsewhere. Such an approach would better reflect the complexity of modern pharmaceutical value chains while encouraging continued investment in European production facilities.

Europe’s industrial resilience should not be built on an isolation approach, but on a combination of strong European manufacturing capabilities, smart investment incentives and trusted international supply partnerships. A successful “Made in Europe” strategy should therefore provide incentives for companies to innovate, invest, buy and manufacture in Europe, while preserving the flexibility needed to operate within resilient global supply chains.

AnimalhealthEurope remains committed to working with the EU institutions and stakeholders to ensure that Europe continues to be a world leader in animal health innovation and production, delivering the medicines, vaccines and technologies that European farmers, veterinarians, pet owners and society in general increasingly depend upon.

---

[1] https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/animal-health

[2] COM(2026)352 – Register of Commission Documents

[3] EU Livestock Strategy – Agriculture and rural development

[4] Source: Federation of Veterinarians of Europe

[5] source: FEDIAF, European Pet Food Manufacturers, Facts & Figures 2025 Report

[6] Source: Eurostat