The animal health industry strives to be ahead of the game when it comes to animal diseases, especially the zoonotic ones that pass between man and animal. On the initiative of the European Commission, a range of technology platforms were established to drive technological development in various fields. One of these is, the European Technology Platform for Global Animal Health (ETPGAH) – www.etpgah.eu - which focuses on threats to the European animal and human population from emerging diseases, also taking a global perspective.

In similar ways as technology has enhanced our day to day lives, so it has the medical sector, both human and animal. The first use of modern biotechnology in the pharmaceutical industry is recognised as being the first production of human insulin in 1978. Advances in medical science and technology have provided the potential to develop new or improved vaccines, pharmaceuticals and diagnostic tests for the prevention and control of animal disease such as avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, rabies and classical swine fever. One of the earliest developments in animal health was an Aujeszky’s disease vaccine, which allowed a successful eradication programme in several European countries. The use of biotechnology and cutting-edge research means that new vaccines can be developed in the future e.g. against diseases for which currently it is impossible to vaccinate.