ITEM 10. REPORT OF THE STANDING TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

(following British Government restrictions after the Iran elections). The Iran Veterinary Organization (IVO) continued to attach high importance to FMD control and to the EuFMD/EC support. The work program for 2009, and the main areas of their interest for a Phase III were discussed. Of major concern is the lack of early typing of FMDV strains; several months pass between submission and typing, for several reasons. Lab services do not meet demand, incorrect samples are submitted and return around of results is too slow. The solutions were seen as establishing subnational labs to undertake the services needed. The IVO fully supported the idea; further, they wished to propose that West Azerbaijan province, neighbouring Turkey, be assisted towards achieving FMD free status. This would be in the interest of Iran as well as Turkey/Europe, and fits with the program in the TCC and the proposal from Iraq. Together this represents a major opportunity to strengthen FMD control, creating a high control zone between the countries. It was also clear that the IVO epidemiology unit, although relatively well equipped, requires investment in training. The IVO would also desire a potential twinning with a high level FAO epidemiology reference centre. In discussion, JLA re-iterated the support of France for the Phase II and proposed twinning of the laboratory with AFFSA FMD reference laboratory should difficulties with the WRL remain in Phase III.

Conclusion

The Committee noted with concern the problems to implement Phase II, given the importance of the risk for Turkey and the wider region, and endorsed the proposal that a review of Phase II and of proposed actions for Phase III be conducted, by early 2010 before submission of a Phase III project to the EC.

ITEM 10. Report of the Standing Technical Committee

10.1) Report and Actions The progress report (Appendix 20) was presented by Dr A. Dekker, Chairman of the Standing Technical Committee. He provided an account of the Closed Session held in Kranska Gora, Slovenia, in late September 2009, at which he had been re-elected Chairman, and Kris de Clercq, Vice-President and the leaders of two working groups agreed (David Paton, for FMDV antigen banks, and Emiliana Brocchi, Validation of Diagnostic tests). The Session was structured to address the four of the six priorities set by the 38th Session; the other two (validation of spread models, and socio-economic evaluation of control programs) were shelved from the Agenda.

Regarding the four priorities: 1. Continuation of the Full Genome Sequencing project to understand the origins and threat of FMDV in

West Eurasia: progress since April had been excellent, and the group recommended continuation; 2. Decision making on new antigens for the vaccine banks: a working group was established, and a new procedure for the 6 monthly reports was agreed (see Item 4): for antigenic analysis, several tasks/studies were identified as priorities, principally generation of suitable antisera to enable the antigenic comparisons on type A and SAT2; 3. Guidelines for monitoring/surveillance to meet objectives of the PCP Stages: a guidance paper was reviewed, which also clarified the required laboratory services needed for each stage; 4. Validation/guidance on penside and other diagnostic tests: a working group was established, and recommendations developed.

10.2) Progress on the technical studies commissioned at previous Committee meetings, and new technical studies recommended by the Group Three ongoing projects were reviewed:  Full Genome Sequencing of FMDV from West Eurasia (Pirbright/SAP Institute)  Optimizing rescue of FMDV from viral RNA samples (Lindholm, Denmark)  Diagnostic assays for detection of the Asian buffalo FMDV carrier state Each project was positively reviewed; the group considered the benefit /cost of these studies was very high, and the work should be completed (buffalo studies) and extended (rescue of FMDV from swabs). Three