Eleventh meeting of the Regional Steering Committee of the GF-TADs for Europe

The 11th meeting of the Permanent Regional Steering Committee (RSC-11) of the Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs) for Europe, held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 1-3 October, addressed ongoing challenges and strategies related to transboundary animal diseases (TADs) in Europe and Central Asia. The meeting brought together representatives from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the European Commission (DG SANTE) and Member States.

Key themes:

• Continuing threat of TADs: The meeting emphasized that TADs continue to pose a significant threat to animal health, livelihoods and economies in the region.

• • Diseases of particular concern include African Swine Fever (ASF), which continues to develop in several European countries, including Germany, Italy and Poland, as well as in the Balkan countries. Although Sweden has lifted restrictions, the disease remains a serious concern.
  • Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is also a major concern as it continues to spread and move into unusual host species.
  • Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has limited circulation in Europe, but serotypes SAT2, A and O pose a risk from neighbouring regions.
  • Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) has recently spread to new countries in south-eastern Europe and the Caucasus, despite progress in Central Asia. Outbreaks have been reported in Georgia, Romania, Greece and Turkey.
  • Bluetongue, a vector-borne disease, is also having a significant impact on the livestock sector in Western Europe.
  • The overall trend in the transmission of TADs is increasing worldwide and Europe is no exception.

• Addressing TADs requires collective action, cooperation, transparency and solidarity between international organisations, Member States and stakeholders within the GF-TADs framework. The GF-TADs is seen as a critical framework for coordinating activities.
• Strategic priorities include.

• • Strengthening regional partnerships to coordinate actions, share best practices and establish effective early warning systems.
  • Investing in capacity building through training and resources for veterinary services and professionals to ensure a robust and ready response to emerging threats.
  • Integrate sustainability principles into disease control programmes for long-term resilience.
  • Embrace digitalisation and new technologies for data collection, surveillance and monitoring.
  • Adopt a One Health approach to manage zoonotic diseases and prepare for emerging threats.

• External factors: The spread of TADs is influenced by increased animal movements, climate change, economic instability and societal changes.
• Innovation and technology: There is a focus on innovation and investment in technical solutions, including high quality vaccines and advanced diagnostics, to combat TADs.

Key documents

• Agenda:
• Presentations:
  Activities of GF-TADs from 2022-2024: Implementation of Action plan (2023-2027):
  Dr Bernard Van Goethem, President of the Regional Steering Committee for Europe