Development of the European Veterinary Medicines Gaps and Needs Compass for Sheep and Goats Based on Online Survey and Expert Knowledge Elicitation
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Limited availability of veterinary medicinal products (VMPs) for small ruminants is a long-standing challenge. This mixed-methods study provides the first systematic definition and assessment of (i) shortages, (ii) lack of availability and (iii) unmet needs for sheep and goats across Europe. Survey data from 96 European veterinarians in 13 European countries (the majority of whom were from Spain, Germany, France, and Greece), a market analysis of authorized and available VMPs via the EMA Union Products Database (UPD) and expert knowledge elicitation (EKE) by 23 specialists were combined. Antimicrobials (36.7%) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (19.9%) were identified as the VMP categories most commonly perceived as critically important. Although nearly 5000 VMPs are authorized for small ruminants at the EU level, UPD market research reveals that there is a reported market availability of 28.9% of ovine and 32.7% of caprine authorized VMPs. Validation by EKE confirmed lack of VMP authorization to be the leading root cause of the lack of availability of ovine (31%) and caprine (43%) VMPs at both the national and EU level. The European Veterinary Medicines Gaps and Needs Compass identifies four highest-priority medicine groups lacking in availability for sheep (anthelmintics and endectocides, bacterial and viral vaccines) and two for goats (anthelmintics and bacterial vaccines). Moreover, 13 highest-priority unmet needs were identified for sheep and 14 for goats across antibacterials, analgetics and anti-inflammatories, antiparasitics and vaccines. Potential actionable solutions advised through EKE include harmonized market access pathways and targeted development (especially for vaccines, NSAIDs, and antibiotic teat injectors) to secure animal health, welfare, and One Health objectives.
Source: Veterinary Sciences
Authors: Nikola Čudina, Marina Marić, Lauren Chambers, Margot Vidalinc, Anne Katrine Aagaard, Javier Balado, Petra Bratić, Martin Ganter, Allan Hägg Grønborg, Hasan Hüseyin Şenyüz, Antonio Spezzigu, Aikaterini Pazarakioti, Clare Phythian, Rianne van Helden, Panagiotis D. Katsoulos, Arturo Anadón, Laure Baduel, Flore Demay, Rens van Dobbenburgh, Shereene Williams, Janos Kovacs, Jobke van Hout, Frane Božić, Nancy De Briyne, Wiebke Jansen
Institutions: University of Zagreb, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Swedish Board of Agriculture, Necmettin Erbakan University, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l’Alimentation, de l’Environnement et du Travail, Utrecht University, Brooke, European Medicines Agency, Royal GD (Netherlands)
Language: English
Subfield: Speech and Hearing
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,534
OpenAlex ID: W7140089237