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WVA Announces Candidates for the 2026 Elections
The World Veterinary Association (WVA) is pleased to announce the slate of candidates for the 2026 Elections, including the positions of President-Elect and Councillors. The upcoming elections mark another important milestone in the Association’s continued commitment to strong governance, global representation, and leadership within the veterinary profession.
Meet us in Tokyo for WVAC 2026 and present your research
Join us at 41st Congress of the World Veterinary Association (WVAC 2026) in Tokyo, Japan. The Congress will bring together veterinary professionals, researchers, educators, students and industry experts and the Quadripartite under the theme “One Health for a Better Tomorrow”. The Japanese Veterinary Medical Association (JVMA) and the WVA are working together to offer you a great combination of curated programme and abstract submission based presentations.
WVA Council Meets in Geneva: positive momentum, new Members, and reflection on legacy
The World Veterinary Association (WVA) held its latest Council meeting on 9 December in Geneva, Switzerland, with the majority of councillors in attendance. The in-person gathering proved to be both productive and energising, marked by constructive debate, key decisions, and valuable opportunities for collaboration. Under the Chairmanship of WVA President Dr John de Jong, the meeting focused on advancing ongoing initiatives and reviewing organisational priorities for the year ahead. The Council received a warm welcome from Dr Roberto Mossi, President of the Swiss Veterinary Association, who shared insights into the Association’s strategy, operations, and future plans—highlighting opportunities for cooperation and knowledge exchange.
WVA Driving Competence and Collaboration: EDUVET Training and Conference Boost Veterinary Workforce Development in Botswana
WVA was glad to partner in additional activities of the EDUVET project, held in Botswana, across two actions: a hands-on Advanced Training in Gaborone (27–30 November 2025) focused on practical capacity building in honeybee health, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and the EDUVET Conference in Maun (28 November–1 December 2025), which convened academia, industry, and public-sector stakeholders to discuss innovation, partnerships, and sustainable vocational pathways in veterinary technical and vocational education and training (TVET). Together, the two events strengthened the “practice-to-policy” bridge: equipping frontline teams with actionable competencies while aligning stakeholders around shared goals for workforce development and employability.
WVA Position Statements
One Health
21 Jul 2025
WVA Position on Food and Nutrition Security
Veterinarians significantly contribute to the four pillars of food and nutrition security: availability, access, use, and stability. Husbandry advice, herd health evaluations, animal pasture interactions, and other activities performed by food-animal veterinary practitioners help to ensure global food security and adequacy of human nutrition. The World Veterinary Association (WVA) supports the promotion of the veterinary role in achieving global food and nutrition security. This includes the engagement of veterinary experts and their contributions to organisations involved in global food security such as the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Global Action Programme on Food Security & Nutrition, Zero Hunger Initiatives and the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and other such future programmes and projects. Veterinarians and veterinary para-professionals play key roles in mitigating and eliminating the public health risks of Taenia solium (T. solium) and Echinococcus granulosus infections by way of improving public education, surveillance, improved sanitary practices, and advocacy. In regions where these diseases are endemic, veterinarians play a particularly critical role in community engagement, treatment of host animals and public health initiatives.
Animal Welfare
11 Jul 2025
Factsheet on Dog and Cat Welfare During Transport
Transporting animals requires careful planning to ensure their safety, health, and well-being. Whether traveling by air, road, or train—whether for relocation, rescue, breeding, or personal reasons – this factsheet can be used when consulting with a veterinarian.
One Health
29 May 2025
WVA Position Statement on Cysticercosis and Cystic Echinococcosis (Hydatidosis)
Cysticercosis is a parasitic disease that has severe public health implications and affects the quality of life of people in areas where it is endemic. In pigs, the intermediate host, it is caused by ingesting eggs (ova) of Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm (cestode), shed in the feces of an infected human, the definitive host. Veterinarians and veterinary para-professionals play key roles in mitigating and eliminating the public health risks of Taenia solium (T. solium) and Echinococcus granulosus infections by way of improving public education, surveillance, improved sanitary practices, and advocacy. In regions where these diseases are endemic, veterinarians play a particularly critical role in community engagement, treatment of host animals and public health initiatives.
Animal Welfare
14 May 2025
Welfare Across Aquatic Animal Environments
Humans share the world with millions of species that live in or near aquatic habitats. The wellbeing and survival of many of these animals, whether invertebrates or vertebrates such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, aquatic birds, and mammals, depend on aquatic environmental conditions consistent with those which prevailed in the natural ecosystem in which each evolved.