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Enhancing regional cooperation

32nd Conference of the WOAH Regional Commission for Europe concludes in Riga

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The 32nd Conference of the Regional Commission for Europe concluded last Friday in Riga, Latvia, bringing together WOAH Members and regional partners to discuss shared priorities for animal health and welfare, disease preparedness and cross-border cooperation.

Held from 21 to 25 September, the event brought Members together to discuss a broad range of regional priorities, including the implementation of the WOAH 8th Strategic Plan 2027–2031, governance, One Health, animal health preparedness, animal welfare, antimicrobial resistance, disease reporting and regional cooperation.

Biosecurity was one of the two Technical Items discussed during the meeting. Participants reviewed implementation across the Europe Region and shared experiences and lessons learned from recent outbreaks.
The Conference adopted Recommendation No. 1 on the harmonisation and effectiveness of biosecurity measures for emerging and re-emerging transboundary animal diseases. It calls on Members to strengthen compliance in line with WOAH standards, promote risk-based approaches, secure adequate resources and regularly evaluate these measures.
The second Technical Item focused on emergency preparedness and response to peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and sheep pox and goat pox (SGP) in Europe.
Participants analyzed lessons from recent outbreaks, with discussions focusing on early detection, risk-based surveillance, diagnostic capacity, animal movement controls, biosecurity and joint prevention strategies.
To address these challenges, the Conference adopted Recommendation No. 2 on emergency preparedness and response to PPR and SGP in the region. It urges Members to maintain contingency plans, expand surveillance and diagnostic capabilities, ensure timely notification through WAHIS, and reinforce epidemiological information sharing.
Throughout the event, delegates discussed early warning systems, the interconnection between ADIS and WAHIS, and the use of epidemic intelligence, forecasting and foresight to support operational readiness.
The programme also addressed animal welfare, including transport by land and sea as well as the work of the Animal Welfare Platform and Action Plan 2027. Other sessions centered on One Health and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), highlighting its economic impact on animal health and the implementation of the 2024 United Nations Political Declaration on AMR. 
The Conference concluded on 25 September with the adoption of the formal Recommendations and discussions on future priorities. The Regional Commission for Europe will continue working alongside Members, WOAH Representations and partners to advance these priorities and safeguard animal health across the region.
The next Conference of the Regional Commission for Europe will take place in Kazakhstan in 2028.

Agenda

Agenda
Agenda

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