A network of FMD Vaccine Banks has been initiated with the support of vaccine bank executors (worldwide) that participated in a workshop held at Pirbright in April 2006. Terms of Reference (TOR) for coordinated activities is under consultation. A key benefit from this network would be the formation of a virtual ‘global’ vaccine bank that could orchestrate additional emergency cover with vaccine or antigen from member’s reserves. To realise these benefits, solutions must be found to problems of disparate standards, conflicts of interest and confidentiality issues over virus strain selection. Participation of commercial companies in this network is crucial and essential.