The Institute in Brussels for the FVE Conference on Import & Keeping of Exotic Animals in EU

On the 4^th and the 5^th of October 2012, the G. Caporale Institute attended the first international conference on the import and keeping of exotic animals. The event was held in Brussels on the occasion of "World Animal Day" and was organised by the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) under the patronage of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the EU and the Swiss federal veterinary office. European Commission exponents belonging to the Directorates-General devoted to consumer protection (DG Sanco) and environment (DG Environment), official veterinarians, researchers, representatives of the trade sector and major international protectionist associations, all participated in the conference.

The conference, the first of its kind, focused on the import of exotic species within the European Union, a continuously increasing phenomenon that raises concerns on eventual risks affecting public health and environmental impact. During the many interventions, speakers emphasised on the extremely precarious conditions often characterising these animals' transport and keeping, with consequent devastating effects on their health and welfare.

These issues are of particular interest to the G. Caporale Institute, which is currently involved in a three-year European project (Callisto) aiming to study the risk of transmission of zoonotic diseases from pet animals, including so-called "exotic animals", to human beings, as well as in a variety of other projects dedicated to the study and improvement of animal welfare during transport and the relationship between humans and pets.

At the end of the conference, during a panel discussion attended by all participants, areas of concern were clearly identified envisaging both the reduction of risks associated with the introduction of these animals within the EU (by limiting the movement of certain species and improving the implementation of regulations concerning the handling of live animals) as well as the improvement of their living conditions (by enhancing the training of the sector's professionals, including veterinarians, and by intervening with targeted checks on animal stores).