International affairs

AVMA ensures that the U.S. veterinary profession's voice is heard on the global stage, particularly in the areas of animal welfare, veterinary education, antimicrobial use and resistance, and One Health. Much of this work involves collaborating with other veterinary and scientific organizations working on an international level:

• Appointing representatives to work with key animal health intergovernmental agencies, including the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Codex Alimentarius Commission
• Maintaining active memberships in international veterinary associations to ensure the U.S. veterinary profession is involved in global policy development and to broaden volunteer opportunities for AVMA members
• Working with other international veterinary associations and establishing coalitions to address common challenges and opportunities across borders
• Providing guidance to new veterinary associations in other countries

Many of these activities are overseen by the AVMA's Committee on International Veterinary Affairs, which reports directly to the AVMA Board of Directors. AVMA members interested in international veterinary affairs might consider serving on the Committee on International Veterinary Affairs.

Championing AVMA member interests at home and abroad

These global alliances allow AVMA members to be part of the conversation and share valuable resources, information, and ideas with veterinarians around the world. One area where global partnerships have been critical to AVMA members is in ensuring that veterinarians have access to essential drugs. For example, when stricter ketamine regulations were proposed to the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the AVMA worked alongside our international allies to emphasize the need to retain veterinary access to this critical drug.

International partnerships are especially important in public policy conversations. The AVMA, FVE, and CVMA have released joint statements on a variety of issues, including animal welfare, education, antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance, and the role of veterinarians in protecting environmental and public health, to name just a few. These statements carry the weight of more than 40 countries and 300,000 veterinarians, demonstrating to our respective governments a unified voice across our profession and the globe.

In addition, our international alliances provide unique opportunities for AVMA members. The AVMA-AFSCAN Twinning Program, for example, connects interested AVMA members with veterinary clinics in Africa to foster shared learning and growth.

AVMA’s involvement in ensuring quality medical education extends well beyond the work done by the  Council on Education (COE) and Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) within the United States.

• All Canadian veterinary schools are accredited by the COE, and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association participates in the COE’s accreditation activities. The CVTEA also has a mutual recognition policy encouraging veterinary state boards to recognize technician schools accredited by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and vice versa.
• Throughout the world, international veterinary schools meeting the COE’s accreditation standards may voluntarily seek accreditation.

The AVMA has played an international role in animal welfare, animal health policy, quality assurance of veterinary education, association building, and other issues for many decades. The establishment of the AVMA Committee on International Veterinary Affairs (CIVA) in 2007 created a strong, centralized infrastructure to help us take on a proactive role in international veterinary medicine and better focus our global work.

These reports, prepared by the CIVA and/or AVMA staff, give detailed overviews of AVMA’s involvement in international veterinary affairs:

• AVMA involvement in international veterinary medicine through 2013
• 2011 report: AVMA’s role in global veterinary activities