Possible conflicts of interest Søren S. Nielsen collaborates with the Danish stakeholders in animal production, the pharmaceutical industry and animal welfare NGOs. The collaborations on occasion include direct collaboration in the veterinary consultancy unit or in research projects. Furthermore, the collaboration includes contact via the advisory committees, where the collaborators are members. Søren S. Nielsen acts in his function as employee at University of Copenhagen in these relations. He does not receive any renumeration from the collaborators. He also serves as a Chair of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare and the Scientific Committee in the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), along with ad hoc working groups within EFSA. He receives a salary for these services according to EFSA’s Expert’s Compensation Guide. Declarations of Interest are made to, and approved by, the EFSA Management Board in that regard.