Diseases such as foot-and-mouth, salmonella and bluetongue have hit the headlines in recent years. As a consequence, myths about food safety and animal health abound. To fully understand the impact that food safety standards have on trade, and therefore on Europe’s economy, still remains a challenge. For different reasons, best practices and success stories from salmonella, mastitis and other significant disease outbreaks are often overlooked.The International Federation for Animal Health Europe 2012 conference will bring together a wide range of stakeholders working in food safety and the food supply chain, including authorities, EU animal health, food industry partners and media to discuss the rising challenge of keeping Europe’s animal and human populations healthy.Confirmed speakers:Alejandro Bernal (IFAH-Europe) - Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle (European Food Safety Authority) - David Leaver (Royal Agricultural College, United Kingdom) - Dieter Schillinger (International Livestock Research Institute) - Hans Jöhr (Nestlé) - Hans Joostens (European Commission DG Trade) - Kate Trollope (EU Food Policy) - Peter Oostenbach (IFAH-Europe) - John McEvoy (European Commission Food and Veterinary Office) - Arie Havelaar (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, The Netherlands) - Bernard Van Goethem (European Commission DG Health and Consumers) - Roland Aumüller (GlobalGAP) - Dermott Jewell (Consumers' Association of Ireland) - Charlie Dunmore (Reuters) - Piet Vanthemsche (Boerendbond, Belgium) - Declan O'Brien (IFAH-Europe).