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29/05/2025

Veterinary health sector signals renewed direction and leadership at VISAD’s 27th General Assembly

The Association of Turkish Animal Health Industry (VISAD), representing the veterinary pharmaceutical and health sector for over 34 years, held its 27th Ordinary General Assembly on May 9, 2025, at Wyndham Grand Istanbul Kalamis. The meeting brought together representatives from 32 member companies and served as both a review of the previous term and a platform for future planning.

One of the most significant outcomes of the event was the election of Dr. Burhan Haci as the new Chairman of the Board. He was joined on the board by Dr. Taner Oncel, Yesim Koc, Mine Nergiz Kent, and Canberk Balaban. Following internal role distribution, Dr. Oncel was named Vice Chairman, Koc as Treasurer, Kent as Secretary, and Balaban as Member. The Supervisory Board will be chaired by Servin Naghavi.

Structured Progress and Policy Dialogue

The assembly opened with remarks from the General Secretary and was formally chaired by Sake Yalcin. The outgoing board’s activity report was presented by Dr. Taner Oncel, who highlighted the completion of 13 board meetings and the passing of 39 resolutions during the 26th term. These decisions were guided by input from dedicated working groups and focused heavily on improving collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture.

VISAD made notable progress through the creation and presentation of detailed industry “status reports” addressing key regulatory areas: marketing authorization processes, GMP inspections, pharmaceutical tracking systems (ITS/ATS), and online sales of veterinary products. These reports, based on member feedback, were positively received by ministry officials and contributed to constructive policy discussions.

A standout achievement was the first joint workshop with ministry representatives—moderated by Mine Nergiz Kent—focused on improving the review process for product dossiers. This event laid the groundwork for the development of standardized responses to common regulatory challenges.

Strengthening Visibility and International Integration

Dr. Oncel also emphasized changes in membership composition, including the departure of some companies and the addition of new ones, bringing the total to 33 firms and 60 individual members. While VISAD continues to grow, attention was drawn to the decline in female membership—an area flagged for future improvement.

Efforts were also made to raise public awareness through campaigns such as the in-progress poster initiative warning about the risks of purchasing veterinary drugs online: “The price of the medicine you buy online could be high.”

On the international front, VISAD formally requested the Ministry of Agriculture to pursue mutual recognition of GMP certificates with countries using EU standards, including Serbia and Montenegro—an initiative now under review by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A Message of Unity and Purpose

In his closing remarks, new President Dr. Burhan Haci thanked members for their confidence:

“It is an honor to serve this organization. With your trust and support, we will continue to raise the standards of veterinary health in our country and beyond. Our progress depends on collaboration, transparency, and a shared commitment to excellence.”

As VISAD enters its 27th term, the newly elected board aims to build on the association’s strong foundation—advancing industry standards, supporting its members, and contributing to the betterment of animal and public health.