Drs. H.J. (Henk Jan) Ormel

“I look forward to working with so many experts in the academic world and industry, with the members of the CCD, with the Animal Ethics Committees (DECs), with the Ministry of LVVN, with the NVWA, with the NCad, and with all the other stakeholders who are committed to research and education and who also promote the welfare of laboratory animals. I entered politics as a result of my practical experience as a veterinarian. After ten years at the FAO in Rome and several months in the European Parliament, I am now leaving politics to focus on the day-to-day practice of the ethical consideration for the use of laboratory animals.

I fully acknowledge the importance of using laboratory animals for biomedical scientific research; at the same time, I know there is a desire within society to reduce, refine and replace animal procedures wherever possible. I look forward to working with the very knowledgeable members of the CCD and with everyone involved in using laboratory animals.”

As a One Health expert for the World Health Organization (WHO), Henk Jan is also involved in country evaluations for the International Health Regulations (IHR2005). At the FAO, he coordinated collaboration between the FAO, WHO and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and he coordinated the Global Framework-Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADS) and the FAO working group on AMR (antibiotic resistance). Before joining the FAO, Henk Jan was a Member of Parliament for 10 years and a practising veterinarian for 19 years. During his time in Parliament, among his other activities, he was the spokesperson on laboratory animals and actively campaigned for the reduction, refinement and replacement of laboratory animal use.