FESASS visits Portugal

For FESASS, it is essential to stand alongside its members in order to support their activities and initiatives.

It was in this spirit that President Stéphane JEANNE and Secretary General Alain CANTALOUBE visited the Garvão Fair (Ourique, Portugal) from 8 to 10 May 2026. They took part in the international conference “Carnes do Montado”, bringing a European perspective on animal health. In particular, they highlighted the importance of collective health measures to safeguard the status of livestock farms and thus ensure safe trade within the Single Market. It was also an opportunity to observe the involvement of the local ADS (Agrupamentos de Defesa Sanitária) in the fight against IBR and BVD.

They were also able to take part in a programme of visits and exchanges focusing on the promotion of local breeds and produce. This programme is essential to support the efforts of farmers and processors in the Alentejo region to promote the Garvonesa cattle breed, pig production and wine.

Many thanks to President António AIRES and his colleagues from the AACB (Associação de Agricultores do Campo Branco) for their invitation and the excellent organisation of this conference and related events.

Finally, this visit provided an opportunity to meet with Dr Susana GUEDES POMBO, Director-General of Food and Veterinary Affairs (DGAV), Portugal’s Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) and President of the World Organisation for Animal Health. The President was able to present to her our federation’s concerns regarding the health security of animal movements as well as the future funding of European animal health policy. The Director-General shares these concerns and expressed interest in our work on these issues. She also emphasised that the upcoming OMSA Forum ‘Investing in animal health to secure the future for all’ should contribute to the discussion on the need to adapt funding to future needs.