SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary of Recommendations

On the training of veterinarians for recognition and response to suspected FMD

1. The training of veterinarians in FMD recognition and response should be considered a continual activity of the Commission, without a time-limit; the modality for training should be identified following a mid–term review of the program in late 2010, with recommendations to be brought to the 39th General Session of the EuFMD in 2011, with a view to ensuring continuity of the program in 2012 onwards.

On the international risk situation

2. Member States (MS) should note the WRL recommendations on priority FMDV antigens to be kept for emergency situations, and reconsider their holdings in relation to the high risk of A Iran 05 and type O PanAsia II in the region; 3. Members States should be aware of the epidemics of type A Iran 05 in Turkey, Iran, with recent epidemic spread as far as Israel and Libya, and the relative poor match of A Iraq22 vaccine for this epidemic strain, and should review their precautionary measures during the upcoming winter transmission risk period; 4. The procedure proposed by the Research Group (RG) for identification of priority antigens was endorsed and should be available ahead of the next Session; 5. The risk assessment component of the new prioritization procedure should be made available to MS so they may adapt the procedure to address their own risk situation; 6. The technical studies recommended by the Research Group, relating to decision making tools and biological materials required by the Reference Laboratories for improved decision making, were supported in principle, and detailed concept notes should be developed for review and potential funding; 7. Consideration should be given to the possible mechanism for emergency procurement through the Trust Fund of FMD antigens held in banks of non-European countries, for use in EuFMD MS, for the situation in which national and EU Vaccine Banks are unable to supply sufficient antigens; 8. Actions to improve submission of FMDV from the areas of concern in the African proximity should be continued.

Relating to the Global Initiative

9. FAO and OIE are encouraged to put into place the Working Group to follow-up on the recommendations of the Paraguay conference, as recommended by the Gf-TADS Global Steering Committee, and are requested to consider to include the EuFMD Commission and a representative for the West Eurasia Roadmap in this group as Regional Representatives.

Relating to the Long Term Strategy for FMD Control in West Eurasia

10. The proposal presented by the Secretariat was endorsed, related to rebalancing the efforts and financial resources of the EuFMD/EC program, and the financial resources required, towards high risk countries in West Eurasia, with focus on the neighbouring areas of Turkey. The regional support should, in the current funding period, provide some support for regional laboratory networking and epidemiology support to improve early warning of emergent viruses and to improve design of monitoring and surveillance studies; 11. The objectives of the Commission support should remain to reduce the risk of incursion of emergent viruses into member countries, particularly those at immediate risk, and promote progress of these countries along the Regional Roadmap; 12. The Government of Italy was strongly encouraged to continue support in the period 2010-12, in parallel to the EuFMD/EC program, for the five countries to the east of Iran that have been supported under the Italian Cooperation with FAO; 13. A representative for the West EurAsia Roadmap initiative should be invited as Observer to attend future Sessions of the Executive Committee;

14. The support provided by the Commission to laboratory and epidemiology networking in this region should provide a bridge to enable European institutions and experts to gain from active involvement in studies in the West Eurasia region.

On the priority vaccine antigens for use in West EurAsia

15. Type O Manisa and Asia-1 Shamir, and type A Iran-05 strain, remain the recommended types and strains for inclusion in vaccination programmes in West Eurasia to cover the upcoming 6 month risk period. Countries should undertake risk assessments before omitting one or more of these strains from the routine programme. Countries which utilise routine vaccination should ensure access to vaccines in emergency situation against less frequent FMDV strains, in the medium priority category of the WRL.

On the continuation of monitoring for FMD threats from the African proximity

16. The Secretariat should prepare a project document setting out the objectives, proposed management system for awarding, monitoring and valuating the small grants program. The inclusion of European partners for each proposal was supported, to improve quality, relevance and experience of each party in FMDV monitoring; the WRL should remain the main recipient for samples for vaccine matching.

On the continuation of support to FMD control in the Transcaucasus countries

17. A new project support document should be developed, and negotiated with the countries and the EC, that takes into consideration the conclusions of the review of the 2007-9 program; 18. Given the risk associated with lack of vaccination in Georgia, access to an emergency reserve of FMD vaccine is urgently needed; the Secretariat should agree with the EC on the arrangements.

On the studies recommended by the Standing Technical Committee

19. Concept notes for potential funding should be developed for the four new actions recommended by the Technical Committee, and commissioned following the application of the procedure adopted at this session for review of the relevance, technical approach, value and management of the proposed work.