Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Proposal for new EU Animal Health Regulation

European Parliament, Intergroup on the welfare & conservation of species

Strasbourg, 27 November, 2014

Unit G2 – Animal healthDirectorate-General for Health and Consumers

European Commission, Brussels

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Contents

• About the Regulation on Animal Health• New elements and opportunities• Specific "animal welfare related" issues :

• Animal Welfare within the context of AH regulation

• Antimicrobial resistance• Pet animals

• Conclusion

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EU Regulation on Animal Health • The main instrument to implement the Animal Health

Strategy (2007-2013) "Prevention is better than cure"• A single and robust legal framework for animal health

• Simplify existing rules:

• Numerically (from ca. 40 Directives and Regulations)

• In substance

• Align with Lisbon Treaty

• More risk based, proactive, preventive behaviour• Categorization/prioritisation of diseases for EU intervention

• Clear responsibilities of keepers, operators, veterinarians, competent authorities, etc.

• Improved response to emerging diseases • No revolution, but evolution

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What is in the Animal Health Proposal

• Horizontal principles and rules for transmissible animal diseases in:• Kept and wild animals and their products• Terrestrial, aquatic and other categories of animals

• Animal health rules for:• Disease prevention

Disease awareness, biosecurity, surveillance, traceability, etc…

• Disease control and eradication• Intra-EU movements and entry into the EU of animals and

animal products• Emergency measures

• Supplementing rules needed to ensure complete implementation and flexible approach• Detailed provisions of the current Directives and Regulations

included in delegated and implementing acts

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What is not in the new AH Proposal

• Not in scope:• Welfare of animals• Pathologies of individual animals• Veterinary checks, official controls• EU veterinary expenditure• Feed, medicated feed• Veterinary medicines• Veterinary education

• Specific rules remain in place for:Animal by-products, TSE rules, Certain zoonoses

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New elements

• More prevention:• Biosecurity at farms, in transport, assembly, at borders• Enhanced surveillance, disease notification and reporting• Clearer policy for the use of vaccines and in relation to disease

control & diagnosis also some other veterinary medicines • AMR pathogens considered as "diseases"

• Different disease preventive and control measures may be applied

• More tools to control emerging diseases

• Easier and safer trade:• Enhanced convergence with international standards on

animal health (OIE)• Compartmentalisation• Requirements for export

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General responsibility for animal health

• Operators

• Responsibility for animal health and biosecurity

• Basic knowledge of animal health

• Proactive involvement in surveillance

• Veterinarians/aquatic animal health professionals

• Early detection of diseases, rapid response

• Member States

• Responsibility for animal health

• Adequate resources, laboratory capacity, animal health services, training

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Opportunities

• "One Health" approach• Horizontal principles and rules contributing to

better overall husbandry• Better response to new threats• Flexibility for disease prevention and control

measures proportionate to the risks

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Health andConsumers

Relevance of Animal Welfare requirements within the AH reg. (1)

• Animal Health proposal brings several animal welfare aspects systematically into animal health for the first time

• Animal welfare in Article 1(2): any measure taken by the AH regulation should take

account the relationship between animal health and animal welfare

• Impact of a disease & control measures on animal welfare is one of the criteria for deciding for listing diseases

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Relevance of Animal Welfare requirements within the AH reg.(2)

• Operators and animal professionals to acquire knowledge of the relationship between animal health and animal welfare

• A number of detailed requirements refer to a link between animal health and welfare (registration of operators, movement requirements, etc.)

• Legislation on animal welfare applies (eg. Reg 1/2005, Dir 1099/2009, etc.)• AH regulation is not contradicting or overruling that

legislation• No need to mention, refer specifically to that legislation

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Union intervention: Antimicrobial resistant pathogens

• COM communication "Action plan against the rising threats from Antimicrobial Resistance" (COM(2011) 278)• Actions No. 5 and 10

• Reduction of the need of antimicrobials• AMR pathogens considered as "disease agents" and thus

"diseases"• Following the outcome of disease categorisation /

prioritisation:• Different disease preventive and control measures may be applied to them

(notification, surveillance, eradication, disease control measures, movement control, etc.)

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With the "breeder"Dog: "kept terrestrial animal"

In pet shopDog: "kept terrestrial animal"

With pet keeper

Pet animal

Abandoned"Stray animal"Dog: "wild terrestrial animal"

In shelter

Dog: "kept terrestrial animal"

AH proposal and different situations in respect of potential "Pet

animal"

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In conclusion

• Animal Health Proposal builds upon the good experiences of the existing legal framework

• Provides: • Solid ground for healthier animals and humans

• Clearer and better understood framework for operators, citizens and non-EU countries

• Provides new elements for more:• Competitive and sustainable livestock and

aquaculture sectors• Confident consumers

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Health andConsumers

To learn more about the Animal Health proposal: http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/animal-health-proposal-2013_en.htm

Thank you for your attention