WOAH brings together Members across Europe and Central Asia to address regulatory challenges, tackle substandard and falsified veterinary products (SFVPs) and promote effective oversight of veterinary products.
The quality and safety of veterinary products are essential to effective animal disease prevention and treatment, responsible antimicrobial use and the protection of public health. However, ensuring that veterinary products meet appropriate standards remains a challenge for many Members, particularly where regulatory and laboratory capacities are still developing.
To address these challenges, WOAH brought together representatives of 16 Members from Europe and Central Asia for a regional workshop on strengthening veterinary products regulatory systems, hosted by the National Food Agency of Georgia.
The discussions highlighted both the diversity of national regulatory frameworks and the common challenges facing Members across the region. These include limited technical and human resources, gaps in laboratory testing capacities, the need to modernise legislation and the importance of closer cooperation between national authorities.
Experiences shared by Georgia, Romania, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Armenia and North Macedonia illustrated different approaches to veterinary products regulation, quality control and the prevention of SFVPs. They also demonstrated the value of regional collaboration, particularly in sharing technical expertise and making better use of existing laboratory capacities.
Turning information into action
A key priority is improving the detection and reporting of SFVPs. These products can compromise animal health, undermine confidence in veterinary treatments and contribute to inappropriate antimicrobial use. SFVPs are a growing threat that knows no borders. They can reach any market through any supply chain, wherever oversight gaps exist.
The workshop marked the first introduction of WOAH’s work on SFVPs to Members in Europe and Central Asia. Participants received practical training on TRUVET (Track and Report Unsafe VETerinary products), WOAH’s platform for reporting and sharing information on SFVPs. Engagement was high, and the number of Members submitting their TRUVET baseline reports increased significantly during the workshop.
This progress reflects growing awareness of the importance of reporting and provides a foundation for better understanding the circulation of SFVPs across the region. Sustaining this momentum will be essential. Continued engagement and regular reporting by Members are key to detecting SFVPs early and protecting animal and public health across the region.
Assessing regulatory systems and identifying priorities
Effective oversight also requires countries to understand the strengths and gaps in their existing regulatory frameworks. For this purpose, participants were introduced to the Veterinary Medicines Regulatory Agency Self-Assessment Tool (VMRA-SAT), currently being developed by the United Kingdom Veterinary Medicines Directorate and received practical training on both its Desktop and WebApp versions of the tool.
The tool offers a structured approach for Members to assess their regulatory systems, identify areas for improvement and inform future capacity-building priorities. The feedback gathered will contribute to WOAH’s consideration of the potential adoption of VMRA-SAT in May 2027.
Working together towards more effective regulation
The workshop marked an important step in bringing together National Focal Points for Veterinary Products and representatives of National Regulatory Authorities, creating opportunities for dialogue beyond individual institutional mandates.
Continued cooperation, knowledge exchange and access to practical assessment and reporting tools will be important in helping countries address regulatory gaps and ensure that veterinary products available on their markets meet appropriate standards of quality, safety and efficacy.
Through its work with Members and technical partners, WOAH continues to support the development of effective veterinary products regulatory systems as an essential component of strong Veterinary Services and the protection of animal and human health.
