The EASVO Young Network held a productive virtual meeting on July 11, 2025, focusing on outcomes from the recent General Assembly in Leuven and key developments in combating illegal pet trade.
Attendees from across Europe discussed how the General Assembly reinforced the value of face-to-face engagement and legislative impact. It was noted that EASVO, as an unregistered body, faces limitations in legal and administrative capacity compared to other sections.
A major topic was the illegal pet trade, including the use of falsified veterinary documentation. Fraudulent practices such as tampering with rabies titration reports, reusing addresses, and misclassifying animals as therapy pets were shared. The group welcomed the European Parliament’s adoption of new legislation mandating microchipping and registration, with a planned European database to enhance traceability across borders.
Members highlighted the need for clearer data fields in official lab reports and proposed compiling a list of common fraud indicators to support future policy efforts.
The next EASVO Young Network meeting is scheduled for September 12, 2025, with no meeting planned in August.
