AnimalhealthEurope, the association representing the manufacturers of veterinary medicines, vaccines and other animal health products warmly welcomes the priorities set out by Ireland for its Presidency of the Council of the European Union. We particularly commend the Presidency’s recognition that Europe’s competitiveness, security and sustainability are intrinsically linked to the strength of its life sciences sector, as well as its commitment to advancing preparedness against health threats. The World Health Organisation estimates that roughly 60% of human infectious diseases (and 75% of emerging ones) originate from animals. The animal health sector is a key contributor to One Health, and should therefore also be recognised as a key component of Europe’s life sciences ecosystem. We also strongly support the Presidency’s focus on competitiveness, innovation, investment in strategic sectors, and regulatory simplification.

The Presidency programme also rightly highlights the importance of livestock for food security. Healthy livestock are the foundation of productive, sustainable and resilient agricultural systems. Animal welfare cannot be ensured when animal health is compromised. Similarly, it is widely acknowledged that unhealthy animals are less productive. And when and animal dies or is culled due to a disease this means significant food production losses and severely impacts the sustainability and efficiency of the farm. Animal morbidity and mortality means that natural resources such as feed and water are used, and emissions are produced for little to no food output. Protecting animal health is therefore essential to achieve farm sustainability, competitiveness and food security.

AnimalhealthEurope therefore calls on the Irish Presidency to :

• champion a stronger, EU-wide preventive approach to animal disease management, including through vaccines uptake, inall farming and animal health-related policies;
• recognise the importance of veterinary medicines as a strategic sector for Europe’s competitiveness and security, that should be included in regulatory simplification initiatives;
• reinforce the place of veterinary biotechnologies in the EU Biotech Act I and ensure the Biotech Act II supports innovation opportunities within the veterinary biopharmaceutical sector to ensure the sector plays its role as an independent and central element of Europe’s biomanufacturing sovereignty.

As Ireland takes on the Presidency at a crucial moment, we stand ready to work in close partnership with policymakers, farmers, veterinarians and other stakeholders to ensure that animal health is fully recognised as a strategic priority for the European Union.