The third edition of the EU Veterinary Week, organised in partnership with the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) will run from 14 to 20 June 2010. The theme for the EU Veterinary Week 2010 will be identification and traceability along the food chain.

The week will be launched by the conference "Identification and traceability along the food chain", which will take place over two days in the Charlemagne building, in Brussels (14-15 June). The aim of the conference will be to outline the close link between identification and traceability for veterinary purposes and the numerous additional benefits along the food chain – from farm management to product quality.

During this year's EVW a number of events will take place in EU Member States and will be organised by the competent authorities, veterinary associations and EU veterinary faculties. The overall aim of the EVW is to increase the public's interest and awareness in EU animal-health and food-safety matters.

The EU Veterinary Week (EVW) initiative will be repeated for the third time in 2010. The EVW was organised for the first time in 2008 by the Commission and the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe. In light of the positive feedback received from Member States, veterinarians, stakeholders and the general public, it was felt that it would be beneficial to have an EU Veterinary Week on a yearly basis.

In the framework of this Week, Commissioner Dalli and the Director General of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Bernard Vallat, will sign a Memorandum of Understanding. This document aims to facilitate the attainment of common communication goals for the World Veterinary Year "Vet2011," which will be celebrated next year.