The conference will explore the international regulatory environment, recent and forthcoming innovations in animal health as well as alliances and partnerships to advance the treatment, prevention and control of animal diseases around the world. Representatives from a wide array of international organisations, academia, national animal health authorities and industry associations will convene to help enhance a positive environment for veterinary medicines.

"The conference will be IFAH's first opportunity to unveil our benchmarking studies carried out in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and Japan, which I'm certain will provide a sound basis for constructive dialogue with all the partners in the regulation of medicines to work towards pioneering an exciting new era for animal health products and their availability worldwide" said Peter Jones, Executive Director, IFAH International and one of the two Program Chairs of the conference. "I hope too that the presence of international organisations, NGOs and governments will lead to more international cooperation and partnership to advance animal health and welfare." he added.

David Mackay, Head of the Veterinary and Inspections Unit of the European Medicines Agency -EMEA, the Co-Chair of the Program, noted that the agency is pleased to host the first global conference with a focus on a better regulatory environment of animal medicines. He said: "Recent disease episodes such as AI, FMD and Bluetongue have highlighted the fact that it is difficult to get equal access to effective animal health products around the world. I hope that the conference will help make products more available around the world and iron out the regional variations." Dr Mackay said that regulators are conscious that industry consider too much resource is diverted to defensive research rather than innovation in finding new products and solutions.

For DIA Europe, Director Dr. med. Brigitte Franke-Bray is confident that the conference will provide a neutral forum, facilitating dialogue amongst key stakeholders worldwide in the fields of veterinary medicine and animal health and welfare. There will be a focus on the global regulatory environment and the exploration and development of public-private alliances to advance the efforts needed for successful treatment, prevention and control of existing and emerging diseases in animals.

Ends The full program is available here.

• Global Benchmarking Survey of Regulation of Veterinary Medicines
• Regulation of Veterinary Medicines in the EU
• Veterinary Medicines and Information Technology Unit (VICH) Facilitated Medicines
• VICH-Harmonised Guidelines
• Regional Harmonization through Mutual Recognition
• New Trends in Veterinary Medicine
• Collaboration among Research, Academia and Industry and the Challenge of Technology Transfer
• Managing Consumer Perceptions of Risk and Benefit
• Parasite Control in Livestock
• Antimicrobial Resistance: Managing the Threat to Animal and Human Health-- -Existing and Emerging Diseases About the Drug Information Association (DIA)

The Drug Information Association serves more than 18,000 professionals in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and regulatory industries worldwide. Through its domestic and international meetings, training courses, workshops and webinars, DIA provides a neutral global forum for the exchange of information critical to the advancement of the drug discovery and lifecycle management processes. Headquartered in Horsham, Pa., USA, and with offices in Basel, Switzerland and Tokyo, Japan, the Association is led by its volunteer-based board of directors and executive management team.