The food security of Estonia consists of many layers – from increasing the crisis preparedness of stores in case of power outages to diversifying the supply chains of input goods essential for food production and building up stocks.
In the event of global supply disruptions, it will be very difficult for Estonia to compete with large countries in the purchase of medicinal products, and its own stockpile is therefore necessary. The Estonian Stockpiling Agency has built a strategic stockpile of a few dozen veterinary medicinal products critical for food production.
By the autumn of 2024, the stock of veterinary medicines was formed in the planned volume, including vaccines, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicines.
The Estonian Stockpiling Agency has concluded agreements with the wholesalers of medicinal products, which obligate the companies to establish, store, and constantly update additional stocks of veterinary medicinal products. The ESPA reimburses contractual partners for the cost of holding additional stock, but does not buy out the medicines.
Experts from the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, the State Agency of Medicines, the Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science of the Estonian University of Life Sciences, and the Estonian Veterinary Association helped the ESPA to prepare the establishment of the veterinary medicinal product stockpile.
The wholesalers may not release the strategic stockpile of veterinary medicinal products for use independently; instead, this may be done with the permission of the Estonian Stockpiling Agency based on a decision of the government.
Last updated: 13.03.2026
