Last week, our E&J team attended the Veterinary Public Health Association Study Tour in Romania as part of the Veterinary Public Health Association (VPHA) working group activities.

The purpose of the study tour was to promote collaboration and knowledge exchange between veterinary public health professionals from different countries and sectors.

The tour brought together veterinary public health professionals from organisations including APHA, DEFRA, E&J, as well as other industry partners and Romanian authorities. It created an excellent opportunity for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and professional networking.

During the visit, delegates explored the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Bucharest, along with research and diagnostic facilities. They also gained insight into animal health and food safety systems, as well as key aspects of veterinary education and public health work in Romania.

As part of the programme, we also visited the Bear Sanctuary, which provides care for bears affected by human activity. Although many of the animals have difficult histories, it was encouraging to see the high standards of welfare and care in place. In addition, the group visited a highly modern dairy processing facility, and were impressed by its advanced technologies and automation, as well as a turkey production plant—one of the companies that introduced turkey meat as a widely consumed product in Romania.

Our Technical Manager, Andrei Ungureanu, had the privilege of working with the VPHA to organise the event. He said: “I am pleased to have contributed to this rewarding experience, and especially enjoyed having the opportunity to showcase a part of Romania to colleagues from the UK.”

Overall, the study tour aimed to strengthen international cooperation in veterinary public health, share best practices, and highlight the essential role veterinarians play in protecting both animal and public health.

We were proud to be part of this inspiring event and look forward to future opportunities with the VPHA.