1. OIE Veterinary Legislation Support Programme: actions and perspectives - State of Kuwait Case study Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Kandari Director of Animal Health Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources State of Kuwait

2.  Kuwait is famous for its flat topography and slightly uneven desert.  Kuwait is divided into six governorates, i.e., Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahrah, Al Ahmadi, Kuwait city (capital of Kuwait), Mubarak Al Kabir and Hawalli. 1. Introduction

3. Background Veterinary Services in Kuwait  Veterinary Services (VS) started in 1956 and until 1970; the Ministry of Public Health organized the VS.  Veterinary services delivered under the Ministry of Public works until 1982.  VS delivered under the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAF) following its establishment in 1983.

4. Background: continued Veterinary legislations  The Veterinary legislations formulated by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Work and after establishment of Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources( PAAF) in 1983.  Veterinary Legislations implemented by the Veterinary Authority in PAAF

5. Ongoing PVS activities in Kuwait  The OIE has conducted the following PVS Pathway activities:  PVS Evaluation mission in November 2007  PVS Gap analysis mission in November 2009 in line with three policy priorities, and four technical targets as follows; Policy Priorities 1- Legislation and law enforcement 2- Development of risk analysis(with particular to import risk analysis ) of animals and animal products 3- Improvement of borders protection( procedures, quarantine…). Technical Targets 1-Control of tuberculosis and brucellosis in cattle and small ruminants 2- Control of FMD and BVD 3-Establishment of Equine Diseases Surveillance Program and Control (short to midterm) 4- Eventual eradication (long term) of PPR.

6. The OIE Veterinary legislations support program in Kuwait  Preparation of legislation and regulations and implementation of regulations.  Stakeholders compliance with legislation and regulations.  Veterinary Statuary Body(VSB).

7. OIE PVS evaluation mission The following shortcomings identified in the four fundamental components  VS have an insufficient number of veterinarians, biologists and veterinary technician.  VS authority over the inspection of all products of animal origin should be restored.  A program for enhanced epidemiology with better surveillance and improved detection of emerging animal veterinary public health problem should be established.  Quarantine facilities improved.  More contingency emergency resources provided to the Animal Health Administration(AHA) to manage veterinary emergencies.  Registration of veterinary medicine and biological products.  VS should involve stakeholders more in joint programmes.  A Veterinary Statuary Body(VSB) should be established to regulate the Veterinary professionals and Paraprofessional.

8. PVS gap analysis mission 2009 critical competencies identified for improvement of VS the following critical competencies identified for further improvement in five years with budget estimation.  Professional competencies of Veterinarians  Laboratory Quality assurance  Risk analysis  Passive clinical surveillance  Active epidemiological surveillance  Early detection and emergency response  Disease prevention, control and eradication  Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary biologicals  Residue testing  Emerging issues

9. PVS gap analysis mission 2009 critical competencies identified for improvement of VS: continued  Technical Innovation  Communications  Consultation with the stakeholders  Veterinary Statuary Body  Participation of Producers and other stakeholders in joint programs  Preparation of legislations and implementation of regulations  Stakeholders compliance with legislation and regulations  Traceability

10. Recommendations  VS of Kuwait generally well developed, however, in order to comply with the international standards as set forth by the OIE relevant chapters 3.1, 3.2 and 3.4., the identified critical competencies should be addressed and implemented for an effective VS.

11. Benefit of OIE Mission of Veterinary Legislations support program  The recommendations of the mission report helped the State of Kuwait VS to understand and identify and prioritize areas for legislation reform and other related activities to improve the VS.  OIE Terrestrial Code, Chapter 3.4 on veterinary legislation provided a valuable frame of reference for the State of Kuwait to identify shortfalls in its existing veterinary legislation.  The mission raised awareness of the importance of having legal experts involved with veterinarians in the preparation of veterinary legislation

12. Conclusions  After the OIE PVS Missions, considerable improvements is taking place in some areas of recommendations within the PAAF, except food safety and meat inspection governed by the Municipality, and Veterinary Medicine and biologicals registration governed by the MOH.  However, to restore the food safety and meat inspection of animal origin, registration of VM and Veterinary biologicals under the PAAF as suggested by the PVS Missions, formal dialogue between the stakeholders such as Kuwait Municipality and the Ministry of Health required by the administrative, legal and technical experts level.  To establish VSB and prepare legislations, appropriate discussion will be made within the PAAF legal and technical experts.

13. Future request of PVS Missions In the order of priority basis, the following PVS missions will be requested after approval from the Director General, PAAF. 1. PVS Pathway for Laboratory Mission 2. Veterinary Laboratory twinning project 3. Veterinary Statuary Body Twinning project 4. PVS legislation Agreement 5. PVS aquatic mission 6. PVS evaluation follow-up