Rainer Schneichel has been since June 2007 Vice-President of the Brussels-based Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE), the umbrella organisation of veterinary organisations from 38 European countries which represents the veterinary profession in Europe.

He graduated in Veterinary Medicine in 1984 from the Justus Liebig University in Giessen. He obtained a doctor degree at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. He then undertook studies in Business Administration at the Justus Liebig Univesity in Giessen.

After graduation he worked in various veterinary offices and veterinary clinics. In 1986 he established as a private practitioner. He also has a secondary occupation as official veterinarian in meat inspection. In 1997 he obtained a licence to open a Veterinary Clinic in Mayen. In 1999 he took over his father's lifestock veterinary office (cattles and pigs).

From 1989 he became a member of the Board of Directors of the Tierärztliche Bezirksvereinigung Rheinland-Nassau and in 2000 he became President. Since 1996 he is Vice President of bpt Bundersverband pratizierender Tierärzte (Regional Association of Rheinland-Pfalz). In 2002 he was elected as Vice-President of the Veterinary Chamber of Rheinland-Pfalz. From 2004 he became member of the Managing Committee of BTK (Bundestierärztekammer).

In 2002 he started attending the General Assembly of UEVP (European Union of Veterinary Practitioners) as a representative of Germany. In 2003 he joined the FVE Medicines Working Group. Since 2003 he is an active delegate of Germany to FVE and has been appointed as member of the FVE Financial Committee (2005-2007). In 2005 he was elected as UEVP Vice-President and in 2007 he was elected as Vice-President of FVE and re-elected in May 2009. In the FVE board he follows subjects like the Community Animal Health Strategy, Medicines and the role of the practitioner in Public Health.