China's Foot-and-Mouth Disease Control Strategy Recognized by the World Organisation for Animal Health
On May 28, at the 7th plenary session of the 83rd International Congress of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), China's national foot-and-mouth disease control strategy was endorsed by the OIE, and OIE Director-General Dr. Vallat and Council President Dr. Karin presented the certificate to the Chinese delegation.
Foot-and-mouth disease is one of the most serious animal diseases, listed by the OIE as a notifiable animal disease, and classified by China as a Class I animal disease. To reduce the impact of foot-and-mouth disease on livestock production and international trade, the OIE and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have listed the disease as a priority for prevention and control, and launched the Global Foot-and-Mouth Disease Control Strategy, encouraging members to formulate official control plans, progressively eliminate the disease in stages, and making recognition of official foot-and-mouth disease control plans a prerequisite for applying for foot-and-mouth disease-free status with or without vaccination for a country/zone.
The Ministry of Agriculture, using the National Medium- and Long-Term Plan for Animal Disease Prevention and Control (2012-2020) and the "Technical Specifications for Foot-and-Mouth Disease Prevention and Control" as the main framework, submitted an application to the OIE for recognition of its official foot-and-mouth disease control plan. Subsequently, multiple rounds of communication were held on prevention and control objectives, key measures and other matters. During the 83rd Congress, the Chinese delegation once again responded to relevant questions before the OIE Scientific Commission. After a rigorous review, the OIE Scientific Commission considered China's foot-and-mouth disease prevention and control pathway to be reasonably designed, scientific and feasible, recognized China's systems for animal disease reporting, regionalization and emergency response, and agreed that China's foot-and-mouth disease control strategy be endorsed by the OIE.