Description

State-employed veterinarians organise animal disease control and prevention at local, regional and national level. They safeguard animal health by inspecting imported and exported feedstuffs and organise approvals of veterinary drugs and food inspections. It is advantageous to carry out checks of in-house inspections.

The state veterinary service prescribes systematic inoculations, e.g. against bovine tuberculosis or brucellosis. Animals offered for sale by breeders who do not participate in these programmes may not be traded on the market.

The state veterinary service depends on close collaboration with farmers, food enterprises and private veterinarians. Its burden may be reduced through an animal health service or by support for practising veterinarians.

Requirements

• Clear and coherent political strategy and targets for policy-makers and public authorities
• Close cooperation and knowledge sharing with local advisory services
• Close cooperation and knowledge sharing with research institutions
• Farmers need to be willing to closely cooperate with the advisory services
• Laboratories for residue and contaminant analysis in food and feedstuffs
• Country-wide monitoring of livestock numbers, performance, and the risk of disease (e.g. via an animal health service)
• Regulatory powers for the competent authority, e.g. in the event crisis (e.g. for the veterinary authority in event of an epidemic)
• Skilled / specialised personnel to man the respective institutions / provide the respective services
• Specialised courses at local universities
• Training opportunities for public adminstrative staff
• Training opportunities for veterinarians at local educational institutions

Possible Negative Effects

• Over-regulation of food production along the whole supply chain from farm to store