Eric Van Tilburgh is head of the animal welfare division of the Federal Services of Public Health. He started his professional carreer at the veterinary inspection of the Ministry of Agriculture in 1984. During his training he made a report on the situation of laboratory animals in Belgium.

He worked initially on CITES and animal welfare  but with the creation of the animal welfare division in the late nineties he became head of this service.

He was member of the Standing Committee of the Convention for the protection of Farm animals of the Council of Europe and vice-chairman of the European Convention for the protection of Pet animals.

With his team of 8 veterinarians Eric Van Tilburgh is responsible for the animal welfare policy in Belgium in the field of farm animals, pets, laboratory animals and exotic animals.