8th Meeting of the Upper Mekong Working Group on Zoning for FMD and Animal Movement Management
(Mangshi, PR China, 9-12 February 2009)
The meeting was attended by 45 participants from the Member Countries (Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, plus Yunnan Province, PR China) of the Upper Mekong Working Group and relevant international/regional organisations including the OIE Regional Commission for Asia, the Far East and Oceania; OIE Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific (OIE Asia-Pacific); OIE Regional Coordination Unit for SEAFMD, FAO Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific; FMD Regional Reference Laboratory (RRL) Pakchong, Thailand; and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
All the participants were welcomed during the Opening Session by Dr Gardner Murray, President of the OIE Regional Commission for Asia, the Far East and Oceania; Dr Itsuo Shimohira, Senior Deputy Regional Representative, OIE Asia-Pacific; Mr Ban Yanguo, Deputy Governor of the People’s Government of Dehong Dai Ethnic and Jinpo Ethnic Autonomous Prefecture; Mr Kang Wei, Chief of Science and Technology Section, Veterinary Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, PR China; and Mr Zhang Zejum, Deputy Director General of Yunnan Provincial Department of Agriculture, PR China.
Dr Ronello Abila, SEAFMD Regional Coordinator (RC), reported the summary of the outcome of the progress of FMD control in Southeast Asia, followed by the reports of the participants from various organisations including OIE Asia-Pacific (on its Animal Health activities), FAO Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific and ACIAR. Each Member Country also presented its country progress report on FMD control.
Of the recent outbreaks of FMD in this region, including the Buffer Zone, the serotype A was found in Thailand and serotype O in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam; however the FMD status was improved in the Control Zone in 2008, with only one outbreak in Xayaboury in Laos.
The meeting noted the developments and progress with the ACIAR Project on Understanding Livestock Movement (ULM) and that, although this is primarily a research project, the outputs of the work are expected to have practical and applied applicability to animal movement management generally.
The meeting also noted FAO measures to channel reagents needed by countries to RRL Pakchong to support routine diagnostic work and inter-laboratory testing, and the results of the FAO vaccine studies in the Lower Mekong Zone, and requested the RC to examine the applicability of outcomes of the study to the UMZ.
The meeting agreed that:
1) The UMZ Strategic Plan will be finalised by July 2009 and be commenced for immediate implementation.
2) The Member Countries will progress, through their country decision-making mechanisms, agreement on signing the proposed MOU at the OIE Regional Conference in Shanghai in November 2009, and endorse transition of the UM Working Group to Commission status subject to endorsement by OIE and partners.
3) The Member Countries will explore the possibility of sharing resources at border posts and in other areas, and where possible include the matter in bilateral discussions.
4) The Regional Coordinator (RC), given AusAID funding appears secured, will take immediate steps to review UMZ activities including meetings with officials, industry, and other relevant groups, e.g. FAO, and provide advice and recommendations on improvements needed to meet the programme objectives and explore with FAO extending the FMD vaccine study to the UMZ.
5) Surveillance and reporting need to be enhanced; and noted that the SEAFMD EpiNet workshop in the Philippines on 16-17 February 2009 will make detailed recommendations on ways to improve shortcomings.
6) The RC and the ACIAR Project Leader should consult every six months on the Project Plan and results, given the significant overlaps between the information needs of the UMWG in the proposed log frame and the research objectives of the ACIAR Project on ULM.
7) The RC with ACIAR, FAO and others should seek to organise a Strategic Workshop on Animal Movement, to improve knowledge and understanding of livestock movement project work, linkages to disease risk, and harmonisation of activities in view of the range of livestock movement projects being undertaken in the Sub-Region.
8) The recommendations of the 8th Meeting of the UMWG should be taken to the 15th Sub-Commission Meeting in Sabah, Malaysia in March 2009 for discussion/support.
9) The 9th UMWG / 1st UM Commission Meeting in February 2010 should be organised in Vietnam and on that occasion the Members should report on Zone activities rather than providing whole country reports.
Participants of the meeting visited locations to the China-Myanmar border, to check the animal movement and to study animal quarantine procedures for the imported animals.