On 9 October 2025, the final event for the “Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance and Zoonoses in Latvia using the “One Health Approach” – Continuation of Structural Reforms” took place at the Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health, and Environment “BIOR”. The event was organised in cooperation with the European Commission’s Reform and Investment Task Force (SG REFORM) the Latvian Ministry of Agriculture, the Food and Veterinary Service, BIOR, Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, as well as partners from the Netherlands and Austria.

The main objective of the project’s closing seminar was to inform representatives of Latvian institutions—including the Ministry of Health, Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Service, and BIOR—about the project’s results, the recommendations developed, and current issues related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and zoonoses. The recommendations formulated within the project will also promote cross-sectoral cooperation, data collection, and information exchange, all based on the “One Health” approach. The following topics were discussed at the conference:

• The significance of the “One Health” concept in the Latvian context;
• The interconnection between climate change, environmental factors, and public health;
• Existing approaches to “One Health” surveillance and cross-sectoral cooperation in Latvia;
• Challenges and lessons learned in zoonoses surveillance;
• Early warning and response systems for zoonoses monitoring;
• Experience in integrated data systems and coordination mechanisms;
• Perspectives on regulatory framework and inter-institutional cooperation for AMR and zoonoses control.

Opening remarks were delivered by Ministry of Agriculture, Head of Department of Animal Health, Breeding, Protection and Food Safety Antra Briņķe: “For Latvia, it is essential to strengthen cross-sectoral cooperation and improve data exchange in order to effectively address the challenges of antimicrobial resistance and zoonoses. This project provided an opportunity to share experience and build the capacity of our institutions so that the “One Health” approach becomes part of everyday practice. I am confident that, by working together, we can achieve significant improvements in public health and food safety.”

Opening remarks were also delivered by European Commission representative Francesca Cattarin, who highlighted the successful cooperation between institutions within the project and emphasised its significant contribution not only for Latvia but for the whole of Europe.

“This project is the first of its kind in Latvia, aiming to establish effective cross-sectoral cooperation and implement the “One Health” concept. Despite the progress already achieved, it is essential to continue working on the implementation of the recommendations developed within the project, with particular focus on strengthening collaboration between supervisory authorities and national reference laboratories across different sectors. In this way, we can ensure the comprehensive and effective application of the “One Health” approach in Latvia,” noted Aivars Bērziņš, Chair of the Scientific Board of the Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and the Environment “BIOR”.

The conference featured experts from the Austrian Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, as well as representatives from Latvian institutions – BIOR, the Food and Veterinary Service, Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and PwC Latvia.

The panel discussion focused on the next steps in strengthening institutional cooperation in AMR and zoonoses monitoring and the need to continue developing the “One Health” approach in Latvia by enhancing institutional collaboration and improving data exchange between the health, veterinary, and environmental sectors. The importance of international experience and the role of EU support in implementing structural reforms were emphasised.

The project “Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance and Zoonoses in Latvia using the “One Health” a Centre for Diseasepproach – Continuation of Structural Reforms” was launched in November 2023 and lasted until October 2025, with the aim of improving Latvia’s AMR and zoonoses surveillance, monitoring, and risk assessment system, developing recommendations for data collection and effective information exchange. The project was funded by the European Union through the Technical Support Instrument and implemented by PwC Latvia.