EMEA/IFAH/DIA press release
Animal health experts call for global cooperation
to boost animal health product availability and innovation
London, 23 November 2007 - Over 120 international animal health experts gathered at the Global Animal Health Conference organised by the EMEA and IFAH and run by DIA in London on 15-16 November 2007 to discuss the current environment for animal health and explore new avenues to advance innovation in veterinary medicines.
Participants underscored the need for all stakeholders including regulators, industry, international organisations and academia to work together to improve the overall environment for animal health products worldwide, including the regulatory framework. The aim should be both to increase the availability of existing veterinary medicines worldwide and to foster innovation.
George Gunn, IFAH President, expressed concern about the overburdening regulatory environment for the animal health sector and the slow market growth. He emphasised the need to simplify regulation bearing in mind the particular nature and needs of the animal health sector. “We need to work with stakeholders across all sectors and at global level to shape an environment for innovation that benefits all parties”, he commented.
The conference examined opportunities for better regulation considering potential impacts of 21st century biology on the existing regulatory system. Jim Riviere from the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine pointed out the need to look ahead and explore new ways to shape the regulatory environment so that it matches new technologies. “Regulations cannot anticipate the direction of new science which, unlike development, grows independent of application”, he emphasised.
David Mackay, Head of the Veterinary Medicines and Inspections Unit of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA), recognised the value of the conference in bringing together international experts and reflecting on the main issues that are threatening the animal health industry and the challenges that industry and regulators are facing. “We have clearly identified the importance of innovation in maintaining the sustainability of the veterinary medicines industry. We recognise that there is an array of new technologies around the corner and we as regulators need to be ready with the necessary guidance already in place for when it will be needed.”, he concluded.
“There has never been a more opportune time to hold a global animal health conference on this scale” commented Peter Jones, Executive Director of IFAH. “With the continuing advance of major epizootic and zoonotic diseases threatening animal agriculture and public health, the contribution of the animal health industry to combating such diseases has rarely been so important. This conference has provided an excellent global forum to evaluate new opportunities for investment and innovation in animal medicines.”
Participants expressed a high level of satisfaction with the outcome of the conference as a result of which the EMEA, IFAH and DIA will consider the timing and format for a continuation of this useful global dialogue.
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Note to editors
For media questions specific to EMEA please contact Martin Harvey Allchurch
at press@emea.europa.eu or +44-20-74 18 84 27.
For media questions concerning IFAH contact Bernd Halling at b.halling@ifahsec.org or +32-2-543 7575.
For media questions concerning DIA contact Joe Krasowski, DIA at Joe.Krasowski@diahome.org or +1-215-293 5812.
About EMEA
The European Medicines Agency is the European Union body responsible for coordinating the existing scientific resources put at its disposal by Member States for the evaluation, supervision and pharmacovigilance of medicinal products.
The Agency provides the Member States and the institutions of the EU the best-possible scientific advice on any question relating to the evaluation of the quality, safety and efficacy of medicinal products for human or veterinary use referred to it in accordance with the provisions of EU legislation relating to medicinal products.
The mission of the European Medicines Agency is to foster scientific excellence in the evaluation and supervision of medicines, for the benefit of public and animal health. For more information, visit www.emea.europa.eu.
About IFAH
The International Federation for Animal Health (IFAH) is an organisation representing manufacturers of veterinary medicines, vaccines and other animal health products in both developed and developing countries across five continents. For more information, visit www.ifahsec.org.
The mission of IFAH is to foster a greater understanding of animal health matters and promote a predictable, science-based regulatory environment that facilitates the supply of innovative and quality animal medicines, vaccines and other animal health products into a competitive market place. These products contribute to a healthy and safe food supply as well as a high standard of health and welfare for animals and people.
About the Drug Information Association (DIA)
The Drug Information Association serves more than 18,000 professionals in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and regulatory industries worldwide. Through its domestic and international meetings, training courses, workshops and webinars, DIA provides a neutral global forum for the exchange of information critical to the advancement of the drug discovery and lifecycle management processes. Headquartered in Horsham, Pa., USA, and with offices in Basel, Switzerland and Tokyo, Japan, the Association is led by its volunteer-based board of directors and executive management team. For more information, visit www.diahome.org or call +1-215-442-6100.
