GF-TADS for Europe Seventh Meeting of the Regional Steering Committee. Governance Mechanisms of GF-TADs for Europe

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GF-TADS for Europe Seventh Meeting of the Regional Steering Committee AFSCA, Brussels 16-17 October 2017 Recommendation No.

1 GF-TADS for Europe Seventh Meeting of the Regional Steering Committee AFSCA, Brussels October 2017 Recommendation No.1 Governance Mechanisms of GF-TADs for Europe CONSIDERING The importance of animal heath on food safety and food security; The impact of Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) on animal and public health, the agricultural sector, trade and the means of existence of small breeders and farmers, stressing the need to combine efforts to combat the diseases at national, regional and global levels involving all relevant stakeholders; The Cooperation Agreement for the promotion of the joint FAO-OIE initiative Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs) signed in 24 May 2004 establishing a facilitating mechanism to empower regional alliances in the fight against TADs, providing capacity building and assisting in specific control of certain TADs based on regional priorities; The set up in October 2005 of the Regional Steering Committee of the GF-TADs for Europe (and its Secretariat) in order to ensure regional coordination and monitor progress for field interventions, laboratory strategic support, and epidemiological evaluation of disease events and control efforts; the RSC and regional Secretariat operate in accordance to their ToRs endorsed during the RSC3; The Regional Steering Committee of the GF-TADS for Europe is composed of representatives of Chief Veterinary Officers (OIE Delegates), representatives of the Regional Specialised Organisations (RSOs) involved with animal health, specific donors, and representatives of centralised and regional structures of the FAO and OIE; The outcomes of the previous GF-TADs Global Steering Committee meetings, notably of the 9 h meeting (GS9) held in Paris in October 2016; and in particular, their recommendations with regards to the GF-TADs Action Plans at global and regional levels; The outcomes of the previous meetings of the GF-TADs for Europe Steering Committee, notably of the 6 th meeting (RSC6) held in Brussels in October 2015 during which two recommendations were adopted and serve as regional guidance for the prevention and control of priority diseases in Europe; The FAO Regional Offices in Europe (Budapest and Ankara), the OIE Regional and sub-regional Representations in Europe (Moscow; Brussels, Astana) have the mandate of promoting political will and commitment of the relevant Ministries of the countries that they oversee. As with the OIE Regional Commission for Europe, the FAO and the OIE representations are critical to participate in overseeing implementation of the GF-TADs objectives and developing additional financial support; 1

2 The existing global tools such as the FAO-OIE-WHO GLEWS, FAO-OIE CMC-AH and OIE-FAO OFFLU to prevent, detect and control animal diseases worldwide; the Regional Networks of laboratories; the several initiatives on the prevention and control of animal diseases in Europe; the Regional Support Units (RSUs) and the need for institutional and financial arrangements to provide sustainability to such initiatives; The establishment of a joint FAO-OIE Global PPR Secretariat in 2015; Theon-going 3 rd Global GF-TADs Evaluation whose conclusions will become available in the first semester 2018; The establishment in 2016 of the Regional Core Group of the OIE Regional Commission for Europe, whose objective is to encourage OIE Member Countries of Europe to a greater involvement in the OIE activities, including GF-TADS activities. THE GF-TADS FOR EUROPE STEERING COMMITTEE DECIDES 1. To endorse the amended composition of the GF-TADs for Europe Steering Committee (list of members in Annex 1), with (i) the new appointment of the Delegate of Switzerland who takes the seat left vacant by the Delegate of Austria 1 ; (ii) the new appointment of the Delegate of Georgia who takes the seat left vacant by the Delegate of Kazakhstan and (iii) the transfer of appointment from former to incoming Delegate of Belgium; 2. To keep Dr B. Van Goethem (EC/DG SANTE) as Chairman of the GF-TADs for Europe Steering Committee and the OIE Delegates of Austria and Russian Federation as vice-presidents of the GF- TADs for Europe Steering Committee. THE GF-TADs FOR EUROPE STEERING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT 1. The Terms of Reference of the Regional Steering Committee and Secretariat of the GF-TADs for Europe be possibly revised in light of the recommendations of the 3 rd GF-TADS Evaluation, and also the needs expressed in terms of: (i) having RCS meetings on an annual basis, taking advantage of the Conference of the Regional Commission for Europe; (ii) strengthening the role of the RSC in between meetings; (iii) further improving the working relationship with GF-TADs Regional Support Units of Europe (OIE Collaborating Centers; OIE-FAO-EU Reference Laboratories; REMESA); (iv) possibly including additional Regional Specialised Organisations; and (v) aligning the duration and start of the mandates of the Members and the President in order to ensure continuity and increase the efficiency of the Regional Steering Committee; 2. The first GF-TADs for Europe Action Plan continue to be implemented until the second edition is prepared and adopted (RSC8, September 2018); 3. The Secretariat start the preparation of the second Action Plan in 2018, taking into account the recommendations of the 3 rd GF-TADs Evaluation and the Key Performance Indicators Framework currently developed by FAO and OIE; 4. The second Action Plan make appropriate reference to the Regional Strategic Plan Framework of the Regional Core Group of the OIE Regional Commission for Europe, and seek support from it to enhance GF-TADs activities cost-effectiveness and coherence in the region; 5. The GF-TADs for Europe be allocated with sufficient resources (financial; human) to implement a growing regional agenda; for this, possible sources of funding to support GF-TADs for Europe be identified; 6. Stakeholders in Europe further continue to use the opportunity to request the GF-TADs label of regional events, to ensure greater visibility and consistency with regional strategies and policies 1 The Delegate of Austria now stands in the RSC in his capacity as member of the Bureau of the OIE Regional Commission for Europe 2

3 for the region (the labelization process will follow the Guidelines adopted by the Global GF-TADs Steering Committee in 2015); 7. GF-TADs Europe strengthen its collaboration with REMESA on priority diseases common to all countries of the Mediterranean Basin, in particular on FMD prevention and control activities; 8. The GF-TADs make use of the Global Website to promote the work of the GF-TADs for Europe in Europe and beyond. 3

4 Annex 1 Composition of the GF-TADs Steering Committee (RSC7, 2017) Chairman of the RSC Position Name Country Country Representative and Vice Chairman of RSC (Delegate non-eu) Bernard Van Goethem Evgeny Neplokonov European Commission Russia Country Representative (Delegate non-eu) Lasha Avaliani* Georgia Country Representative (Delegate non-eu) Hans Wyss* Switzerland Country Representative (Delegate EU) Jean-François Heymans* Belgium Country Representative (President. Reg Commission Eur.) Maris Balodis Latvia Country Representative and Vice Chairman of RSC (Vice- Pres. Reg Commision Eur) Ulrich Herzog Austria Country Representative (Vice-Pres. Reg Commission Eur.) Budimir Plavsic Serbia Country Representative (Secr. Gen. Reg Commission Eur.) Aleksandr Subotin Belarus OIE HQ François Caya Head of RAD Department FAO HQ Eran Raizman Head of EMPRES OIE Reg Rep FAO Reg Rep Donors WHO Regional Specialized Organisations Kazimieras Lukauskas Mereke Taitubayev Andriy Rozstalnyy B. Borello L. Evain Hilde Kruse E. Zamora JL. Angot OIE Representatives FAO Representative Italy France WHO Regional Representative EC EuFMD Regional Regional * New members appointed in

5 GF-TADS for Europe Sixth Meeting of the Regional Steering Committee (RSC6) AFSCA, Brussels, October 2017 Recommendation No. 2 Enhancing prevention and control of priority diseases in Europe CONSIDERING The list of priority diseases established by the GF-TADs Steering Committee for Europe in 2005, as amended at the RSC4 (January 2012) and the epidemiological situation that prevails in Europe in 2017 and its evolution since the RSC6; in particular, ASF, LSD and HPAI remain major concerns in the region; The specific recommendations adopted during the previous meetings of the GF-TADs for Europe Steering Committee on the priority diseases, and their implementation; The GF-TADs for Europe 5-year Action Plan endorsed during the RSC4, and its implementation; notably, the GF-TADs labelled events conducted in the region in the past 2 years and their recommendations; The 2 Standing Groups of Experts, respectively on ASF and LSD, established under the GF-TADs for Europe, that create an optimal arena for the harmonisation of control measures; The respective portfolio of various stakeholders that have been implemented in the region over the past 2 years with regards to the prevention and control of TADs and the reinforcement of Veterinary Services through the OIE PVS Pathway; The FAO-OIE Global Strategy for the Control of FMD endorsed during the FAO-OIE Global Conference on the control of FMD, held in Bangkok (Thailand) in June 2012; The OIE-FAO Global Strategy for the control and eradication of PPR endorsed during the FAO-OIE Global Conference on the control and eradication of PPR (Abidjan / Côte d Ivoire in April 2015), and companion Global Action Plan (GEP) adopted in 2016; The OIE-WHO Global Strategy in collaboration with FAO And GARC, for the elimination of dog mediated rabies (Geneva / Switzerland in December 2016) and companion Global Framework adopted in December 2016; The revision in May 2013 (81st OIE General Session) of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code chapters on Procedures for self-declaration and for official recognition by the OIE (Chapter 1.6), Infection with peste des petits ruminants virus (Chapter 14.8) and classical swine fever (Chapter 15.2) to provide for official disease status recognition, as well as for, in the case of PPR, FMD and CSF, the OIE endorsement of national official control programmes; The 27 th Conference of the OIE Regional Commission for Europe held in Lisbon (Portugal) in September 2016;

6 The need for continuous intra- and inter-regional and cross-border collaboration and concerted action for preventing and controlling diseases having a major social, economic or public health impact and posing a threat to European countries; The on-going renovation of WAHIS (to become WAHIS+) that will facilitate epidemiological data collection and sharing; THE GF-TADs FOR EUROPE STEERING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE FIRST GF-TADS 5- YEAR ACTION PLAN ( ) BE IMPLEMENTED; IN PARTICULAR THAT: General 1. The list of priority disease of the GF-TADs for Europe remain unchanged, with however the inclusion of Rift Valley Fever for some awareness activities; CSF remain in the list but as dormant given the current favourable situation prevailing in Europe, and be easily reactivable in case the situation suddenly worsens; 2. Countries dedicate specific efforts to ensure full transparency of their national animal health situation, for all diseases, especially the GF-TADS priority diseases; notably that Members need to continue to notify 1 through OIE-WAHIS platform the animal disease situation in their countries in a timely manner and with highly quality of information; 3. Special emphasis be put on diseases that are considered by Veterinary Authorities as sufficiently stable and are notified through the six-monthly reports. It is recognized that this way of reporting is transparent and compliant with the OIE Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Codes. However, the possibility to inform the outbreaks close to the border at an early stage is desirable by the Members, to enhance neighbouring countries preparedness. It is recommended that the new version of WAHIS (WAHIS+) consider this flexibility for the sufficiently stable diseases; 4. WAHIS and ADNS be fully connected through the ADIS platform as a way to facilitate the reporting through the Members; 5. Countries reinforce their national capacity for surveillance, early detection and warning systems for all diseases, to ensure a thorough understanding of their national epidemiological situation; 6. GF-TADs partners strive to coordinate their capacity building efforts, to avoid duplication of efforts, using notably the GF-TADs labelization process. Specific African Swine Fever (ASF) 7. The standing Group of Experts on ASF for Eastern Europe and Baltic region (SGE ASF) continue to support affected and at risk countries through regular technical meetings, expert missions, technical handbook and tailored capacity building activities; 8. The recommendations provided by the SGE ASF and made available on the GF-TADs webpage be used by all non-infected countries of Europe to enhance their ASF preparedness. Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) 9. EuFMD continue to support countries of Europe and neighboring regions using the GF-TADs framework as appropriate to enhance prevention and control capacities of the Veterinary Services; 10. Russia consider becoming a full member of EuFMD; 11. The European countries of the REMESA and the EU continue to support the establishment of a regional FMD vaccine bank for Northern Africa, notably taking into account the outcomes of the OIE vaccine bank Think Tank to be held in Paris in November Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) 1 The different mechanisms provided by the OIE terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Codes to accomplish this obligation (early warning system: trough the immediate notification and follow-up reports and the monitoring system: trough the six-monthly reports) were highlighted.

7 12. The countries of Europe be actively involved in the revision of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code Chapter on infection with avian influenza viruses; 13. The countries of Europe consider the conclusions made on HPAI (and PPR) during the G7 CVO Second Forum held in Rome / Italy on 5 October Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) 14. Countries of Europe consider participating in the Pledging Conference to be held in Brussels in the first semester 2018, either as donor or beneficiary countries. 15. A technical side event under the GF-TADs for Europe be held in the margins of the PPR Pledging Conference in order to ensure the full commitment of the European countries to the PPR eradication 2030 deadline, whether they are infected or not. Rabies 16. The GF-TADs for Europe explore the possible establishment of a Standing Group of Experts on rabies for Europe, both for stray dogs and wild life, provided that sufficient resources are made available and secured in the long run; 17. A regional high level / ministerial meeting (half-day) on rabies awareness under the GF-TADs be organized on the occasion of 2018 World Rabies Day. This proposal could be discussed in the margins of the 86th OIE General Session in May 2018 and presented during the 28th Conference of the Regional Conference for Europe (September 2018, Georgia) for full country engagement; 18. The FAO Step-wise rabies elimination tool (SARE) be promoted to enhance countries capacity in straydog mediated rabies to control and eliminate rabies in dogs, in line with the OIE-WHO Global Framework for the elimination of dog-mediated rabies. Brucellosis 19. (same as the RSC6) Rift Valley Fever (RVF) 20. Countries consider the conclusions of the EFSA Scientific opinions on RFV (2013) and on vector-borne diseases (2017) to start putting the disease on their radar screen and raise their preparedness level; 21. EFSA consider reviewing their work on RVF in light of the latest development in Europe and neighbouring regions, and update their conclusions as necessary. Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) 22. The standing Group of Experts on LSD for South East Europe (SGE LSD) continue to support affected and at risk countries through regular technical meetings and tailored capacity building activities, first and foremost aiming at harmonizing across the region national vaccination campaigns to be held annually; 23. The recommendations provided by the SGE LSD and made available on the GF-TADs webpage be used by all non-infected countries of Europe to enhance their LSD preparedness; 24. Countries share their LSD data for research purposes. Reinforcement of Veterinary Services 25. Countries consider taking advantage of the new PVS Pathway evolution options to renew or start their engagement in the OIE PVS Pathway; 26. Countries ensure the active participation of the animal health sector in all One Health relevant activities undertaken by WHO under the International Health Regulations Monitoring and Evaluation Framework; 27. Countries consider requesting to OIE and WHO the holding of IHR/PVS National Bridging Workshops as a tool to improve intersectoral collaboration on zoonotic priority diseases of the GF-TADs for Europe; 28. Representatives from Regional Organisations be involved in PVS Pathway mission as Observers, as possible and relevant. 3

Information about activities in the region of possible relevance for the regional strategic plan. GF-TADs for Europe

First Task-Force meeting Belgrade /Serbia 20-21 December 2016 Information about activities in the region of possible relevance for the regional strategic plan GF-TADs for Europe N. Leboucq Secretariat