European Farmers and Agri-Cooperatives

COPA-COGECA is the united voice of farmers and agri-cooperatives in the EU. Together, they ensure that EU agriculture is sustainable, innovative and competitive, guaranteeing food security to half a billion people throughout Europe. COPA represents over 13 million farmers and their families whilst COGECA represents the interests of 38,000 agricultural cooperatives. They have 77 member organisations from the EU Member States.

See farmers’ role regarding the responsible use of animal medicines here.  For further information, see COPA-COGECA’s website.

European Initiative for Sustainable Development in Agriculture

The European Initiative for Sustainable Development in Agriculture (EISA) was founded with the common aim of developing and promoting Integrated Farming (IF) throughout Europe. IF is a sustainable system, which helps farmers improve the way they farm for the benefit of the environment, the profitability of their business and social responsibility, including all important aspects of sustainable development. EISA works in partnership with all stakeholders to achieve shared responsibility and decision making for collective action as well as to promote the benefits and principles of IF.

With particular regard to animal welfare, IF employs techniques of livestock management that maintain animals in good health, comfort and low stress, by feeding, handling, housing and transporting them under the conditions that reflect proper care and concern for their welfare. Consideration is given to the way decisions are made on the whole farm. This includes animal welfare, grassland, forage and crop management, and the attention to detail demanded in order to ensure sound animal husbandry techniques, environmental responsibility and an economically viable farming business. A herd health plan produced in conjunction with the vet is important to sustainable livestock production, and IF helps focus on the longer term environmental and economic objectives when considering animal husbandry.

EISA strongly supports the best-practice framework for the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals developed by EPRUMA.

For further information, see EISA’s website.

Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations

FECAVA is the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations.  It  unifies and represents the national companion animal veterinary associations of Europe and provides a conduit through which the common objectives of its members are pursued. FECAVA works closely with UEVP and FVE in a focussed and co-coordinated manner to ensure strong representation of the issues.

FECAVA provides a voice for companion animal issues and ensures inclusion of the topics on the European political agenda. Policy statements and guidelines help to spread and strengthen the voice.

See veterinarians’ role regarding the responsible use of animal medicines here. For further information, see FECAVA’s website.

European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation

FEFAC is the European Federation of Compound Feed Manufacturers, i.e. companies who supply to EU livestock farmers optimised mixtures of feed materials with feed additives to provide animals the essential nutrients they need (e.g. proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins etc.) so as to optimize animals performance in the most resource efficient and sustainable manner. A balanced diet meeting animals need is a prerequisite for animal health and welfare.

The nutritionists working in the 4,500 compound feed mills established in the EU-27 provide to EU livestock farmers also services and advice on how to best manage their holdings, in particular the biosecurity measures and housing conditions to prevent occurrence or limit the spread of diseases. Whenever necessary, i.e. when a disease occurs and requires animal treatments with veterinary medicinal products, in-feed medication is in certain cases appropriate and compound feed manufacturers may, upon authorization of public authorities and under the supervision of a veterinarian, incorporate the veterinary medicinal product prescribed by the veterinarian directly into the compound feed so as to ensure a good homogeneity of the mixture.

Compound feed manufacturers are therefore an essential partner of EU livestock producers and the FEFAC role is to favor through the network of compound feed manufacturers the dissemination to livestock farmers of the best practice framework for the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals developed by EPRUMA.

For further information, see FEFAC’s website.

Federation of Veterinarians of Europe

The FVE, the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe, was founded in 1975. Today, it represents 46 national veterinary organisations across 38 European countries and 4 vibrant sections, each of which represents key groups within the profession: Practitioners (UEVP), Hygienists (UEVH), Veterinary State Officers (EASVO) and Veterinarians in Education, Research and Industry (EVERI).

The European veterinary profession, embodied by FVE, strives to promote animal health, animal welfare and public health across Europe. Together with its members, FVE aims to support veterinarians in delivering their professional responsibilities at the best possible level, recognised and valued by society. Further to their high education and training, and through the application of their specific knowledge of animals and related technical skills, veterinarians contribute - in a unique way - to the prevention and control of health and welfare issues in animals, including wildlife and related human health problems. Veterinarians therefore are experts in the field of animal Health, Animal Welfare and public health.

See veterinarians’ role regarding the responsible use of animal medicines here. For further information, see FVE’s website.

International Federation for Animal Health-Europe

The International Federation for Animal Health-Europe (IFAH-Europe) is the organisation representing manufacturers of veterinary medicines in Europe. Membership comprises animal health companies (14) and national animal health associations (20).

Veterinary medicines contribute to a healthy and safe food supply and to a high standard of health and welfare for animals and people. Veterinary medicines are licensed. They only reach the marketplace after they have been thoroughly tested to clearly demonstrate their efficacy, safety and quality, and after review by the relevant government authorities.

The animal health industry is committed to work with veterinarians, farmers and other stakeholders to promote the responsible use of veterinary medicines and maintain the availability and efficacy, as an essential part of the veterinarians’ toolbox.

For further information, see IFAH-Europe’s website.

Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union

The Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU) is the European association representing community pharmacists.

The role of community pharmacists in most of EU Member States includes supply of veterinary medicines as well as human medicines to the public. This role is supported by the educational course that is part of basic Pharmacy curriculum and it usually goes beyond dispending veterinary medication and includes complying with regulations and advocating for quality therapeutic practices. With regard to the responsible use of veterinary medicines, the role of pharmacists is to:

• contribute to the health and welfare of animals by providing professional services to animal owners, including supplying and dispensing veterinary medicines;
• closely collaborate with veterinarians and promote the responsible use of veterinary medicines with their professional advice.

For further information, see PGEU’s website.