Defining Priorities

The world has changed considerably. Diseases such as BSE which posed a great threat to animal and human health 10 years ago, are now considered to be of much lower risk thanks to the measures put in place. Meanwhile, diseases such as Salmonella impact on human health far more than BSE or Foot-and-Mouth disease, yet spending on their prevention is much lower. Moreover, there are new and emerging challenges to face such as diseases that have become more prevalent thanks to global warming.

In short, there is now a need to revaluate priorities based on careful risk assessment and solid scientific advice. The profiling and categorisation of biological and chemical risks will provide the basis for prioritisation. Ultimately, funds should be focused on diseases with high public relevance in terms of their potential impact on human health, society and/or the economy.