OIE Regional Workshop for Newly Assigned Delegates
(Phuket, Thailand, 6-7 April 2009)
The Workshop was attended by 10 participants from OIE Members, namely OIE Delegates or their representatives from Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Korea R.O., Malaysia, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam. An observer from Myanmar and five observers from Thailand also attended the Workshop.
The purpose of the Workshop was to inform OIE Delegates in Asia and the Pacific, who have been recently assigned or who were not able to participate in the previous Workshop for the New Delegates and their representatives, of OIE mandates and functions, and obligations of Members, and assist them in being familiar with functions and activities of the OIE and of the OIE Asia-Pacific, and in being actively involved, as the OIE Delegates, in OIE functions such as formulation of international standards for animal health.
Welcome addresses were delivered by Dr Teruhide Fujita, Regional Representative, OIE Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific, Tokyo, and Dr Tritsadee Chaosuancharoen Deputy Director General of the Department of Livestock Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand, as the host country. Dr Fujita explained the purpose of the Workshop and stressed the importance of active participation of OIE Delegates in OIE functions. Dr Tritsadee welcomed all the participants and expressed gratitude to the OIE for providing an opportunity for newly assigned delegates to understand OIE mandates and functions.
During the session, Dr Fujita explained about organisation, roles and functions of the OIE and Emerging & Transboundary Animal Diseases. Then Dr Alejandro Thiermann, President of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission, explained in detail the OIE Animal Health Codes and Manuals and the standard setting process. Dr Thiermann also explained about the OIE PVS and Gap analysis and also the twining program.
OIE Animal Health Information Systems were explained by Dr Itsuo Shimohira. He explained about OIE notification procedures including the on-line World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) and also touched upon regional activities related to aquatic animal health information such as quarterly reports which have been collected by OIE Asia-Pacific. He informed the participants that the collection of reports by OIE Asia-Pacific on terrestrial animal health had been stopped and that Members should continue reporting directly to the OIE Central Bureau using WAHIS.
Dr Fujita also made a presentation on Food Safety of Animal origin and Animal Welfare. And Regional activities of the OIE Asia-Pacific were explained by Dr Shimohira. He outlined the regional programmes and explained in detail the activities in 2008 and 2009.
Dr Ronello Abila, Regional Coordinator of RCU/SEAFMD, made a presentation on sub-regional activities in Southeast Asia, i.e. SEAFMD campaign and the Programme for Strengthening Veterinary Services (PSVS).
At the end of the Workshop, discussions were made on 1)The requirement for further Regional Workshop for Newly Assigned OIE Delegates and 2) Further activities of animal health improvement at global, regional and National levels.