Doing: -
Collecting information on FMD transmission and risk from EuFMD member states at the borders of EuFMD territory, especially South-East Europe, the near East and North Africa Giving advice on EuFMD supported surveillance activities Assisting in the monitoring of vaccination programmes and evaluation of vaccine effectiveness in the EuFMD and bordering affected regions Participating as trainers in EuFMD funded real-time trainings Updating the minimal standards for laboratories working with FMDV Provide advice on the safe handling of potentially infectious samples in the field and in auxiliary diagnostic laboratories Giving advice on risk from transmission of FMD virus from various pools Prioritising FMD research for funding Creating conditions for mutually recognised validation of available diagnostic tools Giving advice on the fit-for-purpose and the performance of diagnostics
The Chairman thanked Dr Dekker for his Report, and indicated the role of the Special Committee would be discussed in item 8. Dr Gibbens indicated his concern that commissioned studies must result in tangible outcomes and therefore the paper on the future research fund must cover this aspect of commissioning. Dr Füssel emphasised the importance of the Biosecurity Standards for FMD laboratories. Conclusions 1. The Special Committee should complete the work on the review of the Biosecurity Standards for FMD laboratories, and the Secretariat circulate proposals for revision, if any, before the 40th Session.
Item 5. Strategic Plan for the EuFMD Commission for the period 2013-17 The Chairman introduced the Item, indicating that since 2005, the Commission had adopted a 4 year cycle of Strategic Planning; previous plans were adopted in 2005 and 2009 by the EuFMD General Session and the proposals for activities subsequently developed by the Secretariat following guidance and decisions of the Executive Committee Sessions and submitted to EC for funding approval. The 84th Session at Pirbright had reached several conclusions on the scope and purpose of EuFMD activities to be included in the 2013 four-year plan, and following this, a draft Strategic Plan developed for Discussion at the current Session of the Executive. He further indicated that to simplify implementation arrangements, the Strategic Plan if adopted at this session would be used to develop a workplan for actions in the biennium (to 2015 – until the 41st General Session) and submitted as a programme for EC approval. This should enable the Secretariat to focus on implementation rather than the development and negotiation of actions on a piece by piece basis, which should also have the benefit of clear understanding and acceptance of the programme by institutional partners (OIE and FAO). Keith Sumption then presented the draft Strategic Plan, explaining the three Pillars of the Programme to support member states, through better preparedness (Pillar 1), through actions to reduce risk of FMD from the European neighbourhood (Pillar 2) and actions to reduce the risk from distant sources through support to implementing the Global FMD Strategy of FAO and OIE (Pillar 3). A “baseline” of continual capacity to respond to emergency situations would remain, through the 85th Executive Committee meeting of the EuFMD, Crete, Chania, 14-15 February 2013
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