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New
Animal Health structure in Europe
BRUSSELS,
BELGIUM, 28 October 2002: The IFAH (International Federation
for Animal Health) Board of Directors today warmly accepted
the request from the members of FEDESA (European Federation
of Animal Health) to join their international organisation.
The move will mean the creation of a specific European-dedicated
team within IFAH - “IFAH-Europe” - increasing focus
for the members, maximising effective representation towards
the authorities and thereby bringing added value for members
and authorities alike.
The members of FEDESA - both national associations and company
members - have been seeking a strategy that will ensure focus
on key issues, will increase relationships at all levels and
will make better use of resources. The new structure will achieve
these strategic objectives, while at the same time securing
leadership for European issues at a European level.
Strategy
At an Extraordinary General Assembly on 24 October 2002 in Brussels,
the members of FEDESA voted overwhelmingly to merge their activities
with those of the international federation. This was a major
element of the membership’s strategy to improve the operational
efficiency of the animal health industry representation on a
European and an international basis. “The IFAH Board of
Directors has formally accepted the proposal from the FEDESA
membership,” confirmed Jean-Louis Delforge, Executive Director
of IFAH. “And the fact that the proposal to merge received
97% of the FEDESA members’ vote - from both national associations
and company members alike - demonstrates that the animal health
industry in Europe is fully confident that this is the right
way forward,” he continued.
One key step forward is the establishment of a dedicated European
Council within IFAH, which will be responsible for setting the
direction and advising on European issues in the context of
the overall animal health industry priorities agreed with IFAH.
“This European leadership, combined with the increased
support from IFAH will mean increased co-operation on common
key issues - such as good safety and animal welfare - and therefore
a more effective approach as a result,” explained Delforge.
The European Council will comprise representation from the membership
established in Europe - equally balanced between companies and
associations - and will ensure that European decisions continue
to be defined and led by European membership. “The European
Council’s structure is aimed at maintaining leadership
in European issues, while making the most of resources by using
synergies and shared national and international experience,
thereby strengthening representation and increasing,” commented
Delforge. The elected European Council members will be responsible
for developing and implementing the industry’s European
strategy in the framework of the key issues, for overseeing
progress and for managing required resources.
The new structure has clear advantages for all involved in the
animal health industry”, explained Bill Hird, member of
the FEDESA Board of Directors. “It will bring benefits
for our association and company members who need increased effectiveness
and focus, it will bring benefits for the authorities who need
clear and comprehensive input from our industry, and it will
bring increased balance between companies and national association
members in the decision-making process. This is a win-win agreement
for everyone”, he explained.
The merger of FEDESA with IFAH will be completed by 1 January
2003. Contacts with the IFAH-Europe team will remain the same
as with FEDESA, and the address and other contacting details
remain unchanged during the transition period.
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