Upon invitation of the British Cattle Veterinary Association, the 19th World Buiatrics Congress was held in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, from July 8 to 12, 1996.
1692 delegates and 330 accompanying persons from 50 countries participated in the scientific and social programmes.

B. Scientific programme

165 oral and 180 poster communications were presented on most topics related with buiatric sciences. 62 workshops,11 seminars and 8 visits were also organized.
The proceedings of this congress  (3 volumes with a total of 1.000 pages) can be ordered from the BCVA (fax: 44-1452-741117).

C. General Assembly of the World Association for Buiatrics (WAB)

During the WAB Committee Meeting and the WAB  General Assembly, the following developments were discussed and approved

C.1.Statement of account from August 1, 1994  to July 1, 1996 (in Belgian Franks)

-) Balance on August 1 st,1994:	376.325
-) Receipts:	560.984
-) Expenses	465.797
-) Balance on July 1 st,1996:	471.797

C.2. Application of new National Associations to the WAB

 -) Korea (south): Korean Association for Buiatrics
President: Dr Hog-Ryul Han (fax: 82-331-2910582)
-) Portugal: Portuguese Association for Buiatrics
President: Dr. J. Cannas da Silva (fax: 351-43-370048)

C.3. Application of new Contact Persons to the WAB

-) Dr J. Andreotis for Greece (fax: 30-1-6644334)
-) Dr J. Cannas da Silva for Portugal (fax: 351-43-370048)
-) Dr Y. Efron for Israel (fax: 972-4-8514395)
-) Dr Hog-Ryul Han for Korea (fax: 82-331-2910582)
-) Dr H. Navetat for France (fax: 33-70995447

C.4. Venue of the 21th World Buiatrics Congress in 2000

Punta del Este in Uruguay was proposed by the Committee as the official venue of the 21th World Buiatrics Congress in 2000.
Further information can be obtained from Dr. R. Ugarte  (fax: 598-72-25709)

C.5. Venue of the 22th World Buiatrics Congress in 2002.

The candidatures and candidacy files must be sent in 15 samples to the WAB Secretariat before April 1,1998. The candidacy files must contain detailed information on:
-) organizing committee, scientific committee, potential major sponsors
-) geographical localization
-) local infrastructure for conferences, accommodations and social activities

-) scientific programme (invited and free presentations, satellite symposia, joint meetings, professional visits and other potential proposals)
-) social programme
-) marketing for the promotion of the congress
-) proceedings and simultaneous translation
-) balance of the finances and any other topic of potential interest for the selection of this venue.
The final decision will be taken by the WAB Committee on July 1998 in Sydney.

C.6. Nomination of the members of the new WAB committee (1996-2000)

 President: Dr H. Breukink
Vice-presidents: Drs G. Gentile and R. Ugarte
Secretary General: Dr P. Lekeux
Members of the committee: Drs W. Baumgartner, R. Eddy, S. El Amrousi, K. Hamana, W. Hofmann, J. Jarrett, K. Leslie, H. Navetat, B. Rheinberger, A. Rosenbom, 0. Szenci.

D. 1996 Pfizer Award

The winner of the 1996 Pfizer Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Advancement of Knowledge in the Origin and Treatment of Bovine Diseases Caused by Microorganisms (10.000 US$) is Dr. Etienne Thiry.
Dr Thiry received his veterinary degree in 1980, his master's degree in molecular biology in 1982 and his Ph degree in veterinary sciences in 1985. Prof. Thiry is currently head of the department of virology at the faculty of veterinary medicine of the university of Liege, Belgium.
During the past 15 years, Prof. Thiry has contributed to the understanding of the mechanisms of infection of cattle with bovine herpes viruses. His major contributions concern the study of  viral glycoproteins and the study of viral latency in seronegative animals.

E. 1996 RM Gustave Rosenberger Memorial Award.

The winner of the 1996 Rhone Merieux Gustave Rosenberger Memorial Award is Dr Pavol Mudron who is lecturer at the veterinary university of Kosice in Slovakia.
Dr Mudron received his veterinary degree in 1985 and his PhH degree in 1995.
His main research interest is vitamin E physiology and pathophysiology in food animals

F. 20th World Buiatrics Congress

Organizator: Australian Association of Cattle Veterinarians
Site: Sydney, Australia
Date: July 5-10,1998
Information: Dr B. Rheinberger (fax: 61-46-551212

G. Discussion on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

The WAB committee has unanimouly agreed to support the recommendations on BSE published by the Office International des Epizooties.
A copy of these recommendations can be obtained from the OIE (fax: 33-1-42670987)

H. Workshop on specialisation in Buiatrics

It has been agreed that all available information on specialisation in buiatrics (i.e. bovine health and production) from the different countries must be sent to the WAB secretariat which will distribute it to the interested members. More information may be obtained from Drs H. Breukink (fax: 31-302-531817), R. Eddy (fax: 44-1749-342363), W. Klee (fax: 49-89­3151923) and P. Lekeux (32-4-3664030)

I. Further information

Any further information may be obtained from the WAB secretariat, c/o P. Lekeux, Université de Liége, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Bát. B42, Sart Tilman, B-4000 Liége, Belgium.
ATTENTION: NEW PHONE, FAX AND E-MAIL NUMBERS FROM SEPTEMBER 14, 1996:
phone: 32-4-3664030  fax: 32-4-3662935  e-mait: plekeux@stat.fmv.ulg.ac.be

Statutes of the World Association for Buiatrics (last modification: September 2,1994

1.   The objectives of the World Association for Buiatrics (WAB) are to organize meetings on cattle diseases and production in order to report the results of research work and practical experiences in this field, to discuss the topics on an international basis and thus promote buiatrics in science and practice. As a rule, the meetings shall take place regularly in an average interval of 2 years, if possible in different countries. The WAB Committee shall determine the place of the next one and elect the coming organizer 4 years in advance.
Meetings of the WAB shall not be held during the year of a World Veterinary Congress.

2.   Veterinarians of all countries of the world, practitioners as well as scientists, may become members of the WAB, that means not only specialists for cattle but also everyone who cares for or is interested in general or special problems concerning health disturbances and production in cattle. Up to 10 % of the members may be non-veterinarians. Veterinarians who are not members of the WAB may take part in the meeting too; National associations for buiatrics may become associated members of the WAB; however, only individual members present at the General Assembly have voting right.

3.   Individuals who have made outstanding contributions for Buiatrics or to the WAB may be proposed for honorary membership. Proposals will be made by the Committee and require the approval of the General Meeting.

4.   The WAB is affiliated to the World Veterinary Association (WVA) as an associate member. At the latest one year before the next meeting the WAB shall report the place and date of that meeting to the WVA. The statutes and rules of the WVA are to be observed.

5.   The WAB is presided by the Committee consisting of 5 to 15 deputies of different nations. The Committee is elected for 4 years by the General Assembly, which is convoked on the occasion of a scientific meeting. Re-election is possible. An observer member of the Committee is the organizer of the next meeting. Following the election, the Committee will be constituated with one president, two vice-presidents and one secretary; all observers will be "members of the Committee". Moreover, each country may choose one representative to maintain liaison (correspondence) with the Committee.

1.  The expenses of a meeting shall be covered by the participants' fees and if necessary by special allowances. The congress will be fixed by the local organizer and leader of the  meeting who alone is responsible of the organization and of a duly financial course. Lecturers get no fee for their papers but are partly or totally free of charge. Persons who are not members of the WAB may have to pay a higher charge. In order to cover the expenses of the secretariat, the Organizing Committee of each WAB-congress has to provide a sum necessary to run the secretariat until the  next WAB-Congress; if this contribution should be insufficient, the Committee may decide upon subscriptions to be received from the affiliated members.

7.   The National Groups for Buiatrics affiliated to the WAB, the WAB correspondents (Contact Persons), and the Observers of the WAB will receive the WAB News Letters containing the relevant  information about the WAB, in order to make these known to the Members of their respective Groups or Bodies. On the other hand, the National Groups for Buiatrics, the WAB Correspondents and the Observers of the WAB are bound to keep the WAB Secretary informed about the activities and other relevant events in their National Groups for Buiatrics or in the Body they represent (e.g. date and venue of coming congresses and workshops on diseases of cattle, changes of address, presidency or secretariat) in order to enable the WAB Secretary to maintain an up-to-date flow of information to all WAB Members.

8.   The information of the Association shall be published in the veterinary journals. The
official organ of the WAB is "The Bovine Practitioner" which may be ordered from: Dr. E. WILLIAMS, Editor, 1226 North Lincolm, Stillwater, Oklahoma 740 75, USA.

9.   Changes of the statutes need a 2/3 majority of the members present at the general meetings of the association.