Veterinary authorities of Canada and the United Kingdom (U.K.) have agreed to work collaboratively on the regulation of veterinary biologics.
An agreement was reached last week between the regulatory agencies of the two countries.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to increase collaboration between the nations in terms of animal vaccines and other biological veterinary products.
Leading the initiative were Dr Mary Ireland, executive director of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the chief veterinary officer for Canada, and Gavin Hall, deputy chief executive officer of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) of the U.K.
“We believe that access to effective veterinary vaccines is critical not only to protect animal health, but to safeguard public health, secure our food supply, and strengthen economic resilience,” according to the joint statement.
In particular, the two parties will combine their scientific expertise on the assessment of this category of animal health products.
Making these processes more efficient and less burdensome on the industry by taking a combined approach, the MoU is expected to increase access to innovative new animal health products in both countries.
Furthermore, reducing the risk of duplicating effort will contribute to safeguarding animal health, supporting farmers and pet owners, and protecting the food supply chain of both nations.Â
Canada, U.K. regulatory agencies
CFIA is dedicated to safeguarding food, animals and plants, which enhances the health and well-being of the people, environment, and economy of Canada, according to the organization’s web site.
VMD is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs of the U.K. government. Its website summarizes its aims as the protection of animal health, public health, and the environment.
This is not the first time that these two bodies have worked together for the improvement of animal health.
In its annual 2020-2021 report to the U.K. government, VMD referred to the updating of an existing MoU on collaboration with Canada’s Veterinary Drugs Directorate.
Furthermore, the two agencies had agreed a joint review process. This facilitated the allowed for the review of information supporting an application for a veterinary product by both regulators, while allowing independent national sovereign decisions to be made.
At that time, the VMD was also conducting regular meetings with the regulatory bodies of Australia and New Zealand.