IFAH-Europe calls for a single EU marketing authorisation
Better regulation of veterinary medicines is essential for animal health, according to the International Federation for Animal Health (IFAH) Europe.
At its recent conference, the federation called for a truly single market and one EU-wide marketing authorisation process.
The decision-making process on the future of veterinary medicines legislation is due to start later this year.
The federation, which represents manufacturers of veterinary medicines, says it "greatly appreciates" the efforts made so far to improve the efficiency of legislation.
IFAH-Europe wants to see an end to the administrative burden of licensing veterinary medicines to boost innovation in animal health. A pan-European marketing authorisation is key to this goal.
Innovation and investment is being discouraged by this administrative burden alongside insufficient data protection, IFAH claims.
New medicines are essential for fighting animal disease, protecting public health and ensuring safe and sustainable food production.
"A lot of work remains to be done to make veterinary legislation more efficient and to make Europe more attractive for continued investment in innovation," explained IFAH-Europe chairman, Alejandro Bernal.
"We encourage industry and policymakers to work together to build one harmonised licensing system to achieve our ultimate goal of improving the availability of authorised veterinary medicines for the benefit of vets, farmers, pet owners and animals across all EU Member States.
"Now is the time to complete the journey to one true single market in veterinary medicines in the upcoming review of the legislative framework."
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
