REGIONAL COMMISSION FOR AFRICA 2009 THE TERRESTRIAL ANIMAL HEALTH STANDARDS COMMISSION Update of Activities NDJAMENA CHAD 23rd -26th February 2009 S K Hargreaves

Changing of Standards OIE standards based on science Science done by developed countries Pressure by importing countries to protect themselves (e.g. Avian influenza) Pressure by exporting countries to increase trade OIE standards are constantly changing OIE standards developed by transparent/democratic process Private standards based on consumer demands - not science based

Setting of Standards Specialist Commissions (Code/SCAD) and ad hoc/working groups - Standard setting begins List of possible experts to be prepared Selected members from the African regional blocks must attend meetings or find alternative Consider the needs of the continent Circulation of provisional standards for comments International Committee for final debate

Terrestrial Animal Health Code Update of activities 2009

Update of Activities of Importance to Africa Safe commodities: Work continues to identify safe commodities Deboned, matured (+2-4° C for 24 hrs), pH (below 6) tested meat being free from FMD OIE to commission scientific studies as evidence of the safety of this commodity Deboned muscle meat from cattle of any age being free from BSE (removal of the 30 mth ban) 1.6 - 4 million BSE infected cattle consumed in the UK since 1996, but only 179 human deaths

BSE contd. Removal and avoidance of contamination with SRM, as defined in Article 11.6.14., are paramount to manage the human and animal health risks associated with BSE. Mechanically derived meat is a problem Much research done on hamsters and lab animals

Wildlife Surveillance Wildlife now included in AH Surveilllance chapter Disease status now demands surveillance in wildlife if wild species are susceptible to the particular disease. Infection in wildlife may not mean infection is in domestic animals if bio-security measures are in place Therefore, disease status of country/zone may not be affected by presence of infection in wildlife i.e. avian influenza in wild birds Wildlife is becoming more significant and future developments requires monitoring. Handbook on “Surveillance for diseases of terrestrial animals” under development by the OIE

Wildlife Surveillance contd. Challenges for wildlife surveillance Data unavailable (numbers, diseases, movements etc) Collaboration with other Ministries, authorities etc Collection of samples may be difficult (hunters, trappers, game meat, road kills, farmers, wildlife rangers etc) Identification of species Tests must have appropriate sensitivity and specificity for particular wildlife species Some wildlife migratory Difficulty in proving wildlife populations are free of particular disease

Historical Freedom Global climatic and environmental changes Massive movement of animals and people Changes in location of vectors Historical freedom from some diseases is no longer reliable Historical freedom removed from CSF chapter May require surveillance, testing to insure freedom from particular disease

Disease Freedoms OIE specifies freedom for FMD, BSE, CBPP, Rinderpest Questionnaire to be included in the Code for transparency and to strengthen legal basis Detailed questionnaire

Self-declaration Self-declaration of freedom from disease Countries may make a self declaration that a country, zone or compartment is free from a listed disease, based on the implementation of the provisions of the Terrestrial Code and the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals (the Terrestrial Manual). The Veterinary Authority may wish to transmit this information to the OIE Central Bureau, which may publish the information. New article is to be developed in Chapter 1.1 Notification of Diseases and Epidemiological Information.

New Definitions Communication means the discipline of informing, influencing, and motivating individual, institutional and public audiences, preferably on the basis of interactive exchanges, about any issue falling under the mandate of the OIE and the competence of the Veterinary Services. Outbreak communication means the process of communicating in the event of an outbreak. Outbreak communication includes notification. Crisis communication, crisis. PVS Communication to be expanded in the PVS tool PVS to include a gap analysis study Possible legislation follow up missions

Zoning Buffer and surveillance zones Deleted Protection zone (replaces Buffer zone) means a zone established to protect the health status of animals in a free country or free zone, from those in a country or zone of a different animal health status, using measures based on the epidemiology of the disease under consideration to prevent spread of the causative pathogenic agent into a free country or free zone. These measures may include, but are not limited to, vaccination, movement control and an intensified degree of disease surveillance.

Compartmentalisation for FMD Experts have agreed that compartmentalisation can apply to FMD This concept will be included into the FMD chapter for comment by member countries Africa should support this development as it will facilitate trade from many African countries

Compartmentalisation for CSF Accepted that domestic pigs can be kept separate from wild pig Infection in wild pigs would not affect free status in domestic pigs Monitor changes to ASF chapter

Rabies Current chapter modified so that finding bat lyssavirus would not interfere with the status of the country Ad hoc group to be convened to draft new chapter on rabies Chapter to include all lyssaviruses that cause rabies. Country status to change if infection found in domestic animals and man, but not in wildlife.

Stray Dog Population Control For developing countries Diseases (rabies) parasites (echinococcus spp) Very few comments from Africa Definitions, welfare, legislation, control measures, management, vaccinations, euthanasia etc.

Community Animal Health Worker CAHWs are important in Africa CAHW does not appear in the Code No definition made Ad hoc group to address the issue

Animal Welfare Diverse views - Definition unchanged Animal health and welfare linked Transport: air, road, sea Slaughter Killing of animals for disease control Laboratory animals AWWG Production of broilers/layers Dairy animals

New Chapter on Animal Feed Animal feed for food producing animals Pet food/feed New chapter includes feed for all terrestrial animals Codex ‘Code of Practice of Good Animal Feeding’ OIE animal health and zoonoses i.e. FMD, ASF, SVD, BSE etc. Ingredients, contamination, hazards, sampling, labelling, certification etc.

Other Issues Newcastle disease Identification and traceability Greater harmonisation with AI chapter Identification and traceability International meeting in Buenos Aires

Conclusions If Africa is to have more influence in the standard setting process: Regional Commission/Regional Blocks should meet more frequently and develop common positions Conduct more scientific research to support proposed standards Participate actively in ad hoc/working groups Make more comments to circulated draft standards Participate actively at the International Committee

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