Draft Report of the Meeting of the OIE Regional Commission for Asia, the Far East and Oceania (Paris, 28 May 2002)
The OIE Regional Commission for Asia, the Far East and Oceania met on 28 May 2002 at the Salon Hoche, near the OIE headquarters, from 08:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The meeting was attended by forty-six Delegates and observers from twenty OIE Member Countries, and four international organisations, as follows:
Countries: Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea (Rep. of), Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sir Lanka, Taipei China, Thailand, Vanuatu and Vietnam
Observers: France, Switzerland and the Coordinator of the Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific
International organisations: Secretariat of the Pacific Community, FAO1, FAO/IAEA2 Division, SEAFDEC3 and WHO4
The meeting was chaired by Dr J. Gardner Murray (Australia), President of the Commission, assisted by Dr Mohd Nordin Mohd Nor (Malaysia), Vice-President.
- Adoption of the Agenda
The Agenda given at Appendix I was adopted.
- Outstanding contributions of certain OIE Member Countries
A reminder was given to those Member Countries that have not settled their contributions to the OIE. It was noted by the President that those countries in arrears would be sent a letter asking them to settle outstanding accounts.
- Proposal of Technical Items to be included in the Agenda of the 72nd General Session of the OIE International Committee to be held in May 2004
The Commission proposed the following Technical Items:
- The application of regionalisation or zoning in animal disease outbreaks; and
- The prevention, management and control of pathogenic strains of avian influenza.
- Proposal of candidates for the election of a Vice-President and Secretary General to the Regional Commission for Asia, the Far East and Oceania
There were no nominations for the vacant positions of Vice-President and Secretary General for the Regional Commission. The President stated that the current duties would be completed by the present Regional Commission office bearers, and that the Secretary General duties would be completed by Australia. The President advised Member Countries to consider potential nominees for these positions next year.
- Proposal of candidates for the election of a member of the OIE International Animal Health Code Commission
It was agreed that the present office bearer would continue in this position for the remaining one-year term until a new member would be nominated.
- Member Countries' comments and proposals on the Draft Resolution on categorisation of animal diseases
The Delegate of New Zealand gave a brief summary of this issue and noted that this had been discussed at previous meetings. The Draft Resolution was agreed upon unanimously by the Members of the Regional Commission.
- Preparation of the 23rd Conference of the OIE Regional Commission for Asia, the Far East and Oceania
The 23rd Conference of the OIE Regional Commission for Asia, the Far East and Oceania will be held in New Caledonia in November 2003.
It was agreed that if the two Technical Items that the Regional Commission has proposed for the 72nd General Session are not adopted, then they could be used for the 23rd Conference of the Regional Commission.
The following Technical Items were proposed:
- Animal carcass disposal methods (including rendering) in animal disease outbreaks;
- An update on emerging animal diseases in the region and related animal health policies on control measures;
- Animal health measures related to food safety;
- Zoning and regionalisation of animal diseases; and
- Update on developments with aquaculture diseases.
The Representative from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community indicated that it would be willing to provide assistance to New Caledonia in preparing this conference.
- Report on the activities of the OIE Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific
Dr Teruhide Fujita, Coordinator for the Regional Representation, presented the report of his activities, which was distributed to participants.
- Proposed activities of the OIE/Japan Trust Fund Programme in 2002-2003
Dr Fujita described his work programme for 2002-2003, which was distributed to participants.
- Report on the activities of the Foot and Mouth Disease Control Programme in South-East Asia in 2001-2002
Dr Fujita reported on the FMD control programme, which was distributed to participants.
The Commission thanked the previous Regional Coordinator for the South-East Asian FMD campaign for his contribution, and the Australian Government (AusAid), which helps to fund the campaign. The Delegate of Thailand reported on the transition of responsibility to ASEAN5 in 2004. This report was distributed to participants.
It was noted that the proposed guidelines on foot and mouth disease (FMD) zonal freedom for inclusion in the OIE International Animal Health Code would have an effect on countries in the region using the "Code for zonal freedom application for ASEAN countries". The President recommended that this document be provided to the FMD and Other Epizooties Commission for its view and placed on the agenda of the ASEAN FMD meeting in Malaysia for consideration.
The Delegate of India suggested that consideration be given in the work programme for FMD control in other parts of the region. The President recommended that Member Countries participate as observers at the next meeting of the South-East Asian FMD campaign.
- Regional Representation Web site: coordination with the Regional Commission
Dr Fujita gave an update on progress with the Regional Representation Web site and reported that it is now linked to the main OIE Web site. He suggested that it could be more interactive and include more animal health disease control information relevant to the region rather than just disease reports. Comments on this proposal were requested.
- Recommendations of the 22nd Conference of the OIE Regional Commission for Asia, the Far East and Oceania held in Kathmandu (Nepal) from 27 to 30 November 2001
The recommendations from the 22nd Conference of the Regional Commission were agreed upon.
The observers from Switzerland reported briefly on the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) workshop held just prior to the Regional Conference, and recommended BSE diagnosis and surveillance data could be displayed on the Regional Representation Web site.
- Report of the OIE Administrative Commission
The Delegate of New Zealand gave a report of the meeting of the OIE Administrative Commission. He stated that the contributions from Members Countries had decreased this year and requested those Member Countries that are in arrears to regulate the situation. It was also mentioned that a number of Member Countries from the region were not providing regular disease reports to the OIE Animal Health Information Department. An emphasis should be placed on timely and accurate disease reporting from Member Countries. It was noted that the Member Countries of the region desire that both the People's Republic of China and Taipei China be active members of the OIE.
The Commission noted the room selected for this meeting was not private and there were excessive distracting noises from other meetings. The Delegate of New Zealand agreed to report this matter to the Administrative Commission.
- Other matters
Venue and dates for the 9th meeting of the South-East Asia foot and mouth disease campaign
The next meeting of the South-East Asia FMD campaign will be held in Jog Jakarta (Indonesia) in March 2003.
Report of visit to the People's Republic of China and Taipei China
The President gave a report on his recent visit to the People's Republic of China and Taipei China with the OIE Director General. It is hoped that an agreement to enable more active participation from both Member Countries can soon be made.
FAO/OIE Food Summit
The President reported on the paper that was prepared by the Regional Commission for the OIE Director General for incorporation into a report from the OIE to the FAO/OIE Food Summit meeting, to be held in Rome (Italy), 10-13 June 2002. The Delegate of India recommended that a priority be given to an internationally coordinated approach to the control of animal diseases, such as FMD. The President noted the comment from the Delegate of India and stated that disease control needed a multidisciplinary approach with cooperation between all involved members and international organisations.
Report on FMD in the Republic of Korea
The Delegate of the Republic of Korea gave an update on developments with the outbreak of FMD in May 2002 and the control measures that have been implemented.
Report on BSE in Japan
The Delegate of Japan gave an update on developments and control measures that have been implemented in Japan in response to the detection of BSE in indigenous cattle in September 2001.
FAO Challenge Program
The Representative from the FAO gave a report on a concept paper on the "Challenge Program" that has been developed to fund research in two regions (Africa and South-East Asia) for FMD and haemorrhagic septicaemia. The World Bank and other donors are sponsoring the proposal.
WHO Rabies Project
The Representative from the WHO gave an update on the concept paper that has been developed to provide technical assistance for national rabies control plans to assist in reducing the incidence of human rabies.
FMD simulation in Australia
The Delegate of Australia reported that Australia was planning to conduct an FMD simulation on 8-13 September 2002 to test new arrangements that have been put in place for a 'whole of government' response to an incursion of FMD. It was noted that the Vice-President of the Regional Commission would attend the simulation and a report showing the lessons learned would be provided to the regional FMD meeting in Jog Jakarta (Indonesia).
- WTO = World Trade Organization
- FAO = Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
- IAEA = International Atomic Energy Agency
- SEAFDEC = Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre
- WHO = World Health Organization
- ASEAN = Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Appendix I
Agenda
- Adoption of the Agenda
- Outstanding contributions of certain OIE Member Countries
- Proposal of Technical Items to be included in the Agenda of the 72nd General Session of the International Committee to be held in May 2004
- Proposal of candidates for the election of a Vice-President and Secretary-General for the Regional Commission
- Proposal of candidates for the election of a member of the Code Commission
- Member Countries' comments and proposals on the categorisation of animal diseases
- Preparation of the 23rd Conference of the OIE Regional Commission for Asia, the Far East and Oceania to be held in New Caledonia at the end of November 2003 (confirmation of host country, dates, technical items and speakers)
- Report on the activities of the OIE Representation for Asia and the Pacific (Dr T. Fujita)
- Proposed activities of the OIE/Japan Trust Fund Programme in 2002-2003 (Dr T. Fujita)
- Report on the activities of the Foot and Mouth Disease Control Programme in South-East Asia in 2001-2002 (Dr T. Fujita on behalf of Dr J. Edwards)
- Regional Representation Website: coordination with the Regional Commission
- Recommendations of the 22nd Conference of the OIE Regional Commission for Asia, the Far East and Oceania held in Kathmandu (Nepal) from 27 to 30 November 2001
- Report of the Administrative Commission (Dr B. O'Neil/Dr W.H.T. Sung)
- Other matters