Point 10. Global FMD initiative country participation

Dr Füssel (EC) proposed that funds be identified or allocated for training in-country to address the first gap, and that the Secretariat should develop this; a waiting list might be needed, giving opportunity to each MS.

Recommendations

17. The EC/FVO and FAO tools available for assessment of CPs should first be compared, and discussions held between EC, EuFMD and FAO to develop a common approach; 18. The Secretariat should 1) investigate possibilities for networking of CP experts of the MS, assisted by focal points identified by the members of the Executive Committee, and 2) prepare a proposal to the EC for a training fund to enable in-country training visits to FMD outbreaks in countries not free of infection; 19. Further consultation on the “Roadshow” occur with MS and agencies involved, to identify priorities and training modes for the different position of MS. ITEM 10. GLOBAL FMD INITIATIVE

Dr Domenech, FAO, summarized the developments since the 75th ExC; including the agreement of the 1st Global Steering Committee of GF-TADS to develop a joint initiative on global FMD control, with the expected launch at an international OIE/FAO Conference in Paraguay (December 2008, now foreseen in June 2009), with a follow-up Conference in China (in 2009/2010). He presented (Appendix 19) the FAO position, and a document for discussion - “Elements of a Global Initiative/Plan of Action against FMD” (Appendix 20). He indicated that FAO, in a position supported by the OIE, considers that FMD is a “one world” problem with a global FMD distribution comprising 7 major “virus pools”, with more or less separate distributions; three pools in Eurasia three in Africa, and one in South America. Each of these pools contain virus serotypes for which specific vaccines are required, such as the different type A and/or SAT viruses in each pool. There is therefore no global “one size” solution, but tailored approaches to the specific environment, epidemiologic and economic, of each region. FAO therefore considered that a “Roadmap” approach is appropriate; each region, and country within can be considered at a different position along a roadmap. In some regions, particularly in Africa, surveillance and virus typing will first be needed before vaccination programmes can be designed with confidence; in others, the problem may be a lack of capacity or commitment of individual countries that threatens regional progress. He provided a “Roadmap” of meetings during the next year in the build–up to the International Conference, viz: • Regional Roadmap meetings in West EurAsia (Iran, September), Africa (November), and South Asia (SAARC, to be decided) to complement to the ongoing “Roadmaps” in South-east Asia (SEA 2020), South America and are under discussion in Southern Africa (SADC); • the Annual OIE/FAO FMD laboratory network meeting, to be held in China (September), which can identify how laboratory support to a global initiative can be scaled up; • the technical meeting on “Global Control of FMD”, being organized in Sicily by the EuFMD Standing Technical Committee, at which the technical solutions, gaps and opportunities can be debated and identified; • the 77th EuFMD ExC in December, at which progress of the above can be reviewed, the draft Strategy endorsed by the EUFMD Executive and actions directed to address remaining gaps; • the 37th General Session of the EUFMD in April, at which the position of the Member States on commitment to local and global actions can be made clear; • the OIE/FAO International Conference (now June 2009) in Paraguay, viewed as a pledging conference at which the commitment of countries, agencies, regional organizations to support FMD control and allied R&D is anticipated; • the follow-up International Meeting on FMD, to address technical or political issues of achieving progress in endemic regions, to occur in China, the focus, the timing and objectives be agreed at or before June 2009.

The ExC discussed at some length the ideas, the sequence and timing of meetings, and the problems to be anticipated in obtaining financial support. Conclusions

The ExC were in agreement that

76th Session of the Executive Committee of the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease 6