Minister Of Climate Change And Environment, Experts On Animal Health To Attend Launch Of 15th Conference Of OIE Regional Commission For The Middle East
His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and leading animal health and well-being experts will attend the launch of the 15th Conference of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Regional Commission for the Middle East that convenes in Abu Dhabi next week.
Hosted by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) in collaboration with OIE and Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), the conference will run from November 10 to 14, 2019, at Fairmont Bab Al Bahr. It will bring together over 80 animal health and livestock experts, representatives of OIE’s Middle East offices, and stakeholders from the agricultural and animal husbandry sectors, including members of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD).
Coinciding with the establishment of OIE’s Sub-Regional Representation (SRR) in Abu Dhabi this month, the conference will feature a series of closed informative workshops and presentations on OIE’s role in supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the state of animal health and welfare in the UAE and the wider region, as well as the importance of risk communication and emergency management of emerging and transboundary animal diseases. The experts will also examine the state of wildlife trade within the framework of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Pointing out that the conference will serve as an important platform to exchange successful experiences and best practices, explore important challenges and emerging opportunities in the sector, and outline effective recommendations for its sustainability, His Excellency Sultan Alwan, Assistant Undersecretary for the Regions Sector at MOCCAE, said: “The UAE has emerged as a preferred host nation for major international events in key sectors, including the environment and related disciplines. OIE’s selection of the UAE to host its Sub-Regional Representation recognizes the country’s leadership in the field of animal health and well-being.”
He added: “The UAE prioritizes the issue of animal health. In recent years, the country has intensified efforts to develop and protect its livestock, and mitigate risks resulting from common and infectious animal diseases in line with the latest international standards. We will continue to shape mechanisms for the enhancement of this sector.”
The outcomes and recommendations emerging from the conference will be presented at the 88th OIE General Session in Paris in May 2020.
For his part, His Excellency Saeed Al Bahari Salem Al Ameri, Director General of ADAFSA, stressed the importance of the UAE’s endeavors in enhancing its biosecurity system for a unified health approach and the development of the country’s livestock sector.
Reiterating ADAFSA’s keenness to support the OIE SRR office in promoting animal health worldwide, he added: “We seek to strengthen synergies with OIE and MOCCAE in driving the implementation of international standards in the sector. We also look forward to stepped-up efforts by national and regional veterinary laboratories in addressing and controlling animal diseases, especially transboundary diseases, and promoting animal welfare practices across the board.”
