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FAO is spearheading an international effort to step up the fight against African swine fever (ASF). By developing a Global Platform for African swine fever and other important swine diseases, FAO and its partners plan to increase knowledge on ASF and its ramifications as well as promote collaboration among governments and pig producers to reduce global risk.
From 5 to 7 November 2013, experts from Africa, China, Europe, Japan and the United States of America gathered at FAO headquarters to discuss progress on the Global Platform in an effort to better coordinate ASF prevention and control. The forum was sponsored in part by the United States Department of Agriculture. Members of the private sector, international organizations, research centres and national governments also contributed.
The Global Platform will also address other swine diseases, including classical swine fever, parasitic diseases caused by roundworm larvae and tapeworm eggs and other diseases that can spread through the pig food chain.
Bringing pig producers and prevention agencies together
The Global Platform will bring together the private sector (e.g. pig producers, farmer and veterinarian associations, pharmaceutical companies), international and regional organizations, research institutions, government and non-governmental organizations. The goal will be to shape a common agenda against ASF and other important pig diseases.
During the forum, participants confirmed the strategic vision for the Global Platform: “A global, thriving pig sector contributing to global food security through the prevention and control of ASF and other important diseases of swine”. Attendees also agreed that a secretariat will be established at FAO to prepare the Platform for its official establishment in the coming months. The governance, institutional set-up and membership will also be defined, along with a set of preliminary activities.
FAO is supporting the Global Platform through its partnership with the World Organisation for Animal Health under the Global Framework for Transboundary Animal Diseases.
Friday Novemer 15, 2013/ FAO.
http://www.fao.org
