European Medicines Agency

This #WorldVeterinaryDay , I want to recognise the vital contribution veterinarians make every day to animal health and welfare, to food safety, and to public health across Europe and beyond. Veterinarians are often the first line of defence against animal disease. Whether on farms, in clinics, in laboratories, or elsewhere in the field. Through their work, they safeguard not only the wellbeing of animals, but also the confidence consumers place in the food on their plates. This connection between animal and human health is at the heart of the One Health approach. At the European Medicines Agency , veterinary medicine is a core part of our public health mission. Alongside our partners across the EU, we work to ensure veterinary medicines are effective, safe and responsibly used. Supporting veterinarians in their work and helping to protect society as a whole. One important – though sometimes less visible – part of this work is EMA’s role in recommending maximum residue limits (MRLs) for veterinary medicines used in food-producing animals. When veterinary medicines are used in animals raised for food, its essential to ensure that any residue remaining in meat, milk and eggs are at levels that are safe for consumers. MRLs define the highest level of residue legally permitted in food. In order to establish MRLs, EMA’s Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products, together with scientific experts from across the EU, evaluates data on how medicines are absorbed, distributed and eliminated from animals. Veterinarians play a vital role in this process by prescribing or administering authorised medicines in accordance with product information, respecting the dose and the withdrawal period. This ensures that residues in food remain below the established MRL, and thus food of animal origin on the market remains safe, compliant, and fit for consumption. This process is a clear example of how science, regulation and veterinary practice come together in the public interest. It supports food safety, underpins trust in the EU regulatory system, and helps ensure that veterinary medicines can continue to be used responsibly where they are needed. Today, veterinary professionals face complex and evolving challenges, from emerging animal diseases and antimicrobial resistance to sustainability and climate pressures. Regulation must evolve alongside these realities. At EMA, our work is ultimately about enabling veterinarians to do what they do best: make informed clinical decisions, protect animal health and welfare, and act as partners in safeguarding public health. To all veterinarians across Europe and around the world, thank you for your commitment, expertise and dedication.