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.
Veterinary Profession and Education
11 May 2025
WVA Model Veterinarians’ Oath
The primary purpose of the Veterinarians’ Oath is to formally commit new veterinarians to the ethical and professional standards of the veterinary profession. It is most used to swear in new veterinarians upon their entry into the profession, typically at or immediately following graduation from a veterinary educational establishment. This oath serves as a pledge to uphold ethical principles, acknowledge professional responsibilities, build public trust, commit to lifelong learning, and promote a global perspective on animal and public health.
Veterinary Profession and Education
10 May 2025
WVA Position Statement on Implementing Veterinary Continuing Education and Professional Development
The World Veterinary Association (WVA) encourages any organisation or institution that provides Continuing Education and Professional Development (CEPD) programs, to: • Build upon and supplement the Day-One Competencies obtained in institutions of higher education that confer veterinary or veterinary para-professional qualifications; and, • Provide documentation for individuals to use for ongoing licensure or registration.
Veterinary Profession and Education
20 Apr 2025
WVA Position Statement on Veterinary Statutory Body
The World Veterinary Association holds that all veterinarians and veterinary para-professionals should be subject to the authority of the Veterinary Statutory Body (VSB) or equivalent Veterinary Professional Authority (VPA), which is established under the law of the jurisdiction or territory within which they practice or support the practice of veterinary medicine. An autonomous VSB/VPA, which may be known by a variety of different names, such as council, college, association or board, is necessary to ensure delivery of quality veterinary services. The VSB/VPA must be supported by legislative authority, function independently, and regulate all veterinarians and veterinary para-professionals within its jurisdiction.
Medicines Stewardship
15 Apr 2025
WVA Position Statement on Availability of Veterinary Pharmaceuticals
Veterinary pharmaceuticals must be manufactured under strict guidelines and be licensed or registered and approved for use only after undergoing a rigorous quality assurance assessment that is regulated and evaluated by national or regional authorities. Additionally, legislation to authorize such regulation should be based on scientific evidence obtained through studies conducted by qualified veterinarians and scientists. Such regulatory measures will help ensure that veterinary pharmaceuticals, when used in accordance with the approved product label, will have minimal harmful or unintended effects on animals, people, or the environment.
Medicines Stewardship
15 Apr 2025
WVA Position Statement on Strengthening Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation in Low and Middle-Income Countries
The World Veterinary Association (WVA) recognizes the indispensable role that veterinary pharmaceuticals (VP) and veterinary medical products (VMP) play in safeguarding animal health and welfare, enhancing sustainable livestock production, and supporting livelihoods in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). To sustain the benefits of VP and VMP, LMIC should strive to ensure progressive improvement in their technical capabilities to regulate VP and VMP effectively, thereby ensuring their quality, efficacy, and safety.
One Health
19 Jan 2025
WVA Position Statement on Vaccine Preparedness
The World Veterinary Association (WVA) supports the view that having a robust animal vaccination preparedness plan will help a country respond quickly to emerging and reemerging animal disease threats.