Ukrainian delegation at the 7th VICH Conference and VICH Forum: steps towards harmonisation of veterinary legislation

The Ukrainian delegation, led by Oleh Osiyan, First Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, and consisting of Volodymyr Stybel, Director of the State Scientific-Research Control Institute of Veterinary Medicinal Products and Feed Additives, and Yuriy Kosenko, Deputy Director of the State Scientific-Research Control Institute of Veterinary Medicinal Products and Feed Additives, participated in the 7th VICH Conference (13-14 November, Amsterdam) and the VICH Forum (11-12 November, EMA).

The 7th VICH Conference brought together more than 200 participants from 25 countries, including representatives of the veterinary pharmaceutical industry, scientists and competent authorities. During the event, the Ukrainian delegation held a number of important meetings with key international partners, including representatives from the

  • European Commission,
  • EMA (European Medicines Agency)
  • WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health),
  • AnimalhealthEurope, ANSES ANMV, etc.

Important issues were discussed, including

  • Harmonisation of Ukrainian legislation with EU requirements;
  • Analysis of amendments to the Law of Ukraine No. 1206 “On Veterinary Medicine”;
  • Conditions for the audit of the system of marketing authorization of veterinary medicinal products in Ukraine;
  • Translation of VICH guidelines into Ukrainian and organisation of training sessions for specialists.

The VICH Forum, held on the eve of the conference, became an important platform for discussion:

  • Implementation of VICH guidelines,
  • Improving communication between participants
  • Possibilities for self-assessment of regulatory systems,
  • “unmet needs” in the field of veterinary medicines.

These events have become important steps towards the integration of Ukraine into the European veterinary community and the improvement of national approaches to regulatory policy. We thank our international partners for their support and the Ukrainian team for their professionalism and perseverance on the path of European integration!

Fruitful discussion: State Scientific-Research Control Institute of Veterinary Medicinal Products and Feed Additives and the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection discussed the digitalisation of scientific activities in the field of veterinary pharmacy.

On 18 October, the staff of the State Scientific-Research Control Institute of Veterinary Medicinal Products and Feed Additives, led by its Director, Professor Volodymyr Stybel, had a fruitful meeting with the Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, Serhii Zakharin. The meeting was initiated and moderated by Professor Stybel, who briefed the guest on the Institute’s activities and achievements.

The meeting took place in a friendly atmosphere. Serhii Volodymyrovych told the audience about the implementation of a number of digital transformation projects in the field of activity of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, which are aimed at optimising the operation of information systems and improving the quality of public and administrative services through their digitalisation. As a scientist, Sergii Zakharin also showed active interest in the work of the Institute and held a constructive discussion, during which special attention was paid to the issues of digital optimisation of state registers of veterinary medicines, feed additives, etc.  Scientists of the Institute and the representative of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection held a constructive dialogue on current issues and prospects for the development of the industry.

One of the important items on the agenda was a discussion on the possibilities of state funding for scientific research. The meeting resulted in an agreement in principle to work together to develop a state budget programme to support scientific research by the institutions of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection.

As part of the visit, Sergii Zakharin visited the National Reference Laboratory for the Control of Residual Amounts of Active Ingredients of Veterinary Medicines and Feed Additives, where he had the opportunity to get acquainted with modern equipment and advanced research methods. The meeting with the young scientists of the laboratory was an additional opportunity to discuss the prospects for the development of domestic veterinary science.

The results of this event open up new prospects for the development of the veterinary pharmaceutical industry and the improvement of the quality and safety of veterinary medicines and feed additives in Ukraine.by the institutions of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection

Practical part of the workshop “Antibiotic resistance: global crisis, problems and solutions”

Antibiotic resistance is one of the most pressing problems in modern medicine, both in human and veterinary medicine. The misuse of antibiotics in animal husbandry leads to the emergence of resistant strains of bacteria that can be transmitted to humans through food and direct contact. This poses a serious threat to public health and calls into question the effectiveness of treatment of infectious diseases.

That is why the training seminar «Antibiotic resistance: Global Crisis, Problems and Solutions», organised by the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection and the State Scientific-Research Control Institute of Veterinary Medicinal Products and Feed Additives, is extremely relevant. Today, in the practical part of the workshop, leading experts in bacteriology and microbiology from the laboratories of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection engaged in a detailed study of modern methods for determining the antimicrobial susceptibility of microorganisms.

The participants focused on the following important issues

– Disc diffusion method: Despite its simplicity, this classic method remains one of the most widely used in microbiological laboratories. D.O. Ordynska, a researcher at SRIEF’s Bacteriology Department, gave a detailed masterclass on the finer points of its application.

– Serial dilution method: this method makes it possible to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of an antibiotic, i.e. the lowest concentration of the drug that inhibits the growth of bacteria. L. Ostrovska, senior scientist at the State Scientific-Research Control Institute of Veterinary Medicinal Products and Feed Additives, shared her experience of using this method in practice.

– Use of automated microbiological analysers: modern automated systems greatly simplify and speed up the process of determining antimicrobial susceptibility. The details of the use of the Vitek 2 compact analyser will be presented by I. Kushnir, Head of the Laboratory of Bacteriological Control of Quality and Safety of Veterinary Preparations of SCIVP, T. Stetsko, Head of the Laboratory of Control of Chemotherapeutic Preparations of SCIVP, I. Musiyets, Head of the Research Department of Bacteriology of SILDVM, L. Ostrovska and I. Semen, Senior Research Scientists of SCIVP.

The exchange of experience between leading experts is essential to improve the effectiveness of the fight against antimicrobial resistance. The results of this workshop will contribute to the improvement of laboratory diagnostics and the development of new strategies for the rational use of antibiotics in both veterinary and human medicine.