| Quarterly news, views and activities from the European animal health industry I 4th April 2006 |  |
 |
News from IFAH-Europe ETPGAH produces strategic research agenda |
Welcome to the first edition of “IFAH-Europe Perspectives”, a newsletter reporting and explaining developments in the European animal health sector. This edition devotes much space to avian influenza, including details of the Beijing conference, recent EU action and the role of the animal health industry, particularly in the area of producing vaccines against the quickly spreading disease. We also present the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) developed by the European Technology Platform for Global Animal Health, which IFAH-Europe manages. The key objective of the SRA is to identify priority areas for animal health research that have socio-economic, animal health or public health importance. In addition, we would like to draw your attention to the conference IFAH-Europe will organise on 28 June in Brussels to look at innovation in the Animal Health Industry. On behalf of IFAH-Europe, I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter and encourage you to send us your feedback. Best regards, Declan O’Brien |
Dear reader,
|
The European Technology Platform for Global Animal Health (ETPGAH), an initiative managed by IFAH-Europe and involving key animal health stakeholders will shortly publish its Strategic Research Agenda (SRA). The ETPGAH is a multi-stakeholder platform established under the auspices of the EU’s 6th Research Framework programme from which it receives funding. Its aim is to bring together all interested parties in the area of animal health to collaborate to identify and then work on globally important animal health priorities. The SRA makes recommendations for disease prioritisation, fundamental research, enabling factors such as technology transfer, centres of excellence and regulatory issues. Of key importance are the recommendations designed to identify the priority research areas, where the SRA recommends creating a risk-based, disease specific prioritisation model to evaluate global animal health priorities and the risk animal diseases present for the EU. Such a model could be used to target diseases presenting major socio-economic, animal health or human health concerns and to channel research funding into those disease areas. The SRA also recommends initiating research programmes for neglected zoonoses in cooperation with the developing countries that would be most likely to benefit from such research. Responding to current events, one focus area of the SRA is to further develop vaccines against Avian Influenza. For more information, please see:
IFAH-Europe speaks to the Commission IFAH-Europe made a presentation on avian influenza vaccines at the 10 January 2006 meeting of the European Commission Scientific Committee for the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH). The SCFCAH is a regulatory committee of the European Commission, composed of Member State representatives, which plays a key role in the decision making process and is regularly consulted by the Commission. IFAH-Europe informed the meeting about avian influenza vaccination including product availability, different types of vaccines and efficiency. In addition, attention was drawn to regulatory issues, which can affect the speed at which the animal health industry produces and receives approval for new vaccines in an emergency situation. Vaccination can be allowed in an emergency situation or as a preventative measure in the current EU regulatory framework. Ultimately, each Member State must decide whether or not to vaccinate.
IFAH-Europe is organising a conference on innovation in the animal health industry that will take place in Brussels on 28 June 2006. The conference “ The Animal Health Industry – an essential partner for Global Health ” will feature speakers from the EU institutions, international organisations, academia and the animal health industry. More details will follow in the next edition. |
IFAH-Europe organises conference on innovation
|
On Friday 10 February 2006, the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) nominated Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle as the new Executive Director of the authority. Ms Geslain-Lanéelle is currently regional director of Agriculture and Forestry for the Ile de France Region and Vice-President of the EFSA Management Board. Ms Geslain-Lanéelle was called before a hearing of the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee on 23 February 2006. Her appointment must now be confirmed by the EFSA Management Board taking into account the opinion of the European Parliament. The EFSA has a number of responsibilities in the area of animal health including its Animal Health & Welfare panel and regular reports on zoonoses. The agency released a highly regarded report on animal health and welfare aspects of Avian Influenza and will shortly publish an opinion on the role of migratory birds in spreading Avian Influenza. IFAH-Europe is an associate member of the EFSA consultative stakeholder platform.
Beijing conference pledges US$1.9 billion The International Ministerial Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza, which took place in Beijing on 17-18 January 2006 has secured funding pledges of close to US$1.9 billion (€1.59 billion), which was more than anticipated. The EU has pledged €214 million with €100 million promised by the European Commission and €114 million by the EU Member States. The money will be used to strengthen veterinary services and conduct surveillance activities in order that countries can be better prepared to react to an outbreak. The lion’s share of the money will go to East Asia, where outbreaks have occurred, but significant funds will also go to Eastern Europe and Central Asia, while more modest amounts will go to Africa, South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean. IFAH-Europe in partnership with IFAH International is working together with a number of international organisations including the OIE, WHO and FAO to make sure that the animal health industry plays its part in the global fight against highly pathogenic avian influenza. For more information, please see: |
EFSA nominates new Executive Director
|
IFAH-Europe member company Intervet is offering to supply its avian influenza vaccine to European zoos free of charge. Zoo birds are particularly vulnerable to diseases spread by wild birds as they are often kept outdoors. In addition, Avian influenza would spread very quickly in zoos due to their high density of birds. Initially only Dutch zoos will be supplied as the Netherlands is implementing an EU approved vaccination strategy requiring birds kept outdoors to be vaccinated, which includes not only birds living in zoos, but also those kept as pets, as well as free-range poultry. |
IFAH-Europe member company offers bird flu vaccines to zoos
|
Are there already vaccines available to treat the H5N1 form of Avian Influenza? How are avian influenza vaccines used? What is the outcome of vaccinating poultry? Is vaccination alone the solution to stopping the spread of avian influenza? Is it safe to eat the meat and eggs from vaccinated poultry? For more information, please see: |
|
EP Industry & Research Committee discuss FP7............................................................... 4 April 2006 |