IFAH Highlights Vital Role of Animal Health Industry in Maintaining Welfare on World Veterinary Day

Brussels, 25th April 2014 – The International Federation for Animal Health is using the welfare focus of this year’s World Veterinary Day on the 26th April to highlight the vital role that vets and the wider animal health industry play in ensuring animal health and welfare, as well as protecting public health. Carel du Marchie Sarvaas, IFAH Executive Director, says “At the heart of animal welfare is their health and this is the core competence of veterinarians around the world. When we think of the words ‘animal welfare’, we conjure up an image of healthy, well-nourished animals living free of pain and suffering.” “Whilst the world spends only approximately one-fortieth of the amount it devotes to human medicines on animal medicines, that money is used to cover animal health innovations for the world’s 68 billion poultry, 1 billion cattle, 1.8 billion goats and sheep, 1.5 billion pigs, 223 million dogs and 220 million cats . This investment into the research and development of animal medicines ensures a steady stream of new products that improve the health and wellbeing of all of these animals” Carel continues. IFAH, a global non-profit organisation, aims to foster greater understanding of animal health matters by being the global voice of the industry in dealing with governments, food chain partners and consumers. IFAH supports World Veterinary Day organising bodies, the World Veterinary Association (WVA) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), on selecting the theme of animal welfare to highlight the significant role of the veterinarian and to emphasise the importance of adhering to OIE standards on animal welfare. To find out more about how the animal health industry protects and promotes animal welfare, visit: www.ifahsec.org/our-industry/animal-welfare-what-does-it-mean.

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Notes for editors

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. 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.

For further press information please contact:

Luke Hopkins, IFAH press office
Tel.: +44 1273 712 000
E-mail: lhopkins@thisispegasus.co.uk

Kim Hardie, Communications Director
Tel.: +32 2 543 75 75
E-mail: k.hardie@ifahsec.org