“Present features and future role of research for the promotion of animal health and food safety 

in the international context”

Silvia Bellini (DVM)

DG ‐ SANCOAnimal Health Policy/Strategy .... Innovation and Research

Round Table ‐ IZSLER Technical Scientific Committee 

DG-SANCO“ who we are”

“Our job is to ensure that food and consumer goods sold in the EU are safe, that the EU's internal market works for the benefit of consumers and that Europe helps protect and improve its citizens' health. In order to succeed in our mission we work with other EU Institutions, national governments and agencies, consumer organisations, health interest groups, business groups, scientists, researchers and experts.”

DGSANCO 

has around 960 staffAbout 660 are based in Brussels About 120 are based in Luxembourg and another 180 or so in Grange, near Dublin 

Animal Health (G2): the objective “to protect and raise the health status and condition of animals in the Community, in particular food‐producing animals, whilst permitting intra‐Community trade and imports of animals and animal products in accordance with the appropriate health standards and international obligations.”

Unit G2: Animal Health ‐ activitiesPreventive health measures on intra‐community trade and imports of:• live animals • semen, ova and embryos • products of animal origin Community legislation on animal diseases:• new Animal Health Strategy to improve the prevention and control of animal disease 

in the EU • control measures, to be taken as soon as the presence of a disease is suspected • Surveillance, eradication and monitoring programmes, for the diseases that are already 

within the Community • EU financial contribution Other activities:• Community Veterinary Emergency Team • Animal Disease Notification System• Identification measures, to guarantee the traceability of the animals • Traces• Community Reference LaboratoriesExpert group on Animal Health

European Commission’s Animal Health Strategy

In Dec 2004 external evaluation to review the results of EU outcomes on animal health to decide the direction to be taken for the future

Outcome of the evaluation

The policy had to be reviewed

Why a new Animal Health Strategy?

1. The main elements of the existing policy were set between 1988 and 1995, Community of 12 MSs (enlargement)

2. New challenges have emerged (emerging diseases, climate change), other diseases have re – emerged

3. Trading condition have radically changed: volume, pattern 4. Science, technology and EU institutional framework have 

evolved substantially5. Better use of the available resources, including financial tools

based on the results of an extensive evaluation and a large stakeholders consultation

("Animal Health Advisory Committee“)

New Animal Health Strategy (2007 – 2013)“prevention is better than cure”Vision: to work in partnership to increase the prevention of animal health related problems before they happen The main objective is to reduce the incidence of animal disease and to minimise the impact of outbreaks when the do occur, it put greater focus on: 

Prioritization of EU interventionA modern and appropriate animal health frameworkBetter prevention, surveillance and crisis preparednessScience, Innovation and Research 

“Prevention is better than cure”

Reactiveapproach: “cure”

Proactiveapproach: “prevention”

€€

€€

Investment in prevention

Direct and indirect costs

EU Animal Health Strategy (2007-2013) & its Action Plan

“Prevention is better than cure”

http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/strategy

Underlying principles:Partnership and Communication

Pillar 1

Prioritisationof EU

intervention

Pillar 2

A modern EU animal

health framework

Pillar 3

Improve prevention,

crisis preparedness

Pillar4

Science, Innovation and

Research

Animal Health Strategy: “Action Plan”

Pillar I: Defining Priorities

Categorisation of animal disease risks (relevance for EU intervention)Categorisation of chemical risks (relevant for EU intervention)

Pillar II: A Modern Legal Framework

A single and clearer regulatory frameworkAn EU Animal Health Law Developing efficient cost and responsibility sharing schemesAnimal Diseases: Revision of the financial instrument (90/424/EC) Feed sector: Harmonised EU framework of financial guarantees Clearer and more risk‐proportionate rules on animal by‐productsRevision of Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 on animal by‐products Community influence on international standardsImprove EU coordination and promoting EU standards in the OIE on the basis on sound scientific evidence Community membership of the OIE Towards an export strategy at community levelBetter prioritisation of actions against sanitary barriers and negotiating EU export conditions : locally based EU Market Access Teams 

Pillar III: Threat Prevention, Surveillance and Emergency Preparedness

Supporting on farm biosecurity measures11.1 Development of EU Guidelines (different types of production systems and species) 11.2 Procedures to recognize/adopt EU guidelines 12. Provision of funding to finance and promote on‐farm bio‐security measures and training for farmers (based on the EU guidelines) TRACES: single portal for all veterinary matters13. Wider and integrated electronic system, with a unified database including certification, animal identification, and health and welfare status 14. Interoperability for national identification databases 15.1 Electronic identification (bovine) 15.2 Electronic identification (equine) 16. Electronic certification to replace paper certification for movements and imports of live animals and products of animal origin Better border biosecurity17. Revision of import legislation: Risk‐based approach to border inspections ‐ (targeting illegal trade). 18. Coordination of agencies/services regulating imports (customs/veterinary services 19. Risk management at third/neighbouring country level Surveillance20. Development of an Animal Diseases Information System (ADIS):‐ Compatible with the OIE system‐ Interoperability with TRACES‐ Data collection based on identified key indicators‐ Public information 21. Training support in Member States (Better Training for Safer Food programme) Improvement of EU preparedness against major threats to animal health22. Improvement of DG SANCO crisis preparedenes and management (animal health) 23. EU Rapid response network/crisis management/communication capacity 24. Reinforcement of the necessary EU antigen/vaccine banks 

Pillar IV: Science, Innovation and Research

Objective: strengthen the collaboration between European agencies and national bodies, Community Reference Labs..Expected outcomes: 

To define a research action plan (industry, stakeholders): prioritise animal threats, identify gap in control tools for surveillance, diagnosis, vaccination and treatmentTo ensure appropriate level of funding (public – private partnership)  To provide support for research in third countries (international cooperation) 

Partners: EFSA, DG Research, ETGPAH, EMEA,…

7th Research Framework Programme: provide with the appropriate level of funding to implement the research action plan

Initiative already launched: ERANET (Animal Health) ETPGAH (protection and welfare) Technology platform

Pillar 4 Science, Innovation and Research

Pillar IV: Science, Innovation and ResearchFollow the strategy's progress:

25. To mobilise and coordinate scientific resources throughout the EU in order to provide scientific advice within the remit of EFSA in the area of Animal Health 26. Evaluation of the Community Reference Laboratories in the field of animal health and live animals 27. Research action plan involving the industry and other relevant stakeholders. Prioritisation of animal-related threats and will identify the “gaps” in existing control tools for surveillance, diagnosis, vaccination and treatment. 28. Appropriate level of funding to implement the research action plan (public-private partnerships) 29. Suitable framework at Community level to provide more incentives to manufacturers to develop new medicines and diagnostic tools 30. Surveillance and control of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in zoonotic agents by the use of antibiotics in animals 31. Support for research in third/neighbouring countries (international cooperation), especially for exotic diseases of high relevance or for neglected zoonoses which have a serious impact on those countries

http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/strategy/pillars/research_en.htm