The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) develops international standards to improve animal health, animal welfare, and veterinary public health worldwide, by preventing the spread of animal diseases and zoonoses through international trade, while avoiding unjustified sanitary barriers. These standards constitute the main international reference for Veterinary Services and Aquatic Animal Health Services when defining and implementing sanitary measures governing the international movement of animals and animal commodities.
Veterinary Services and Aquatic Animal Health Services play a central role in ensuring the sanitary safety of international trade, through their responsibilities in disease prevention and control, risk analysis, certification, and official assurance systems.
The workshop consists of three stages:
The agenda of the workshop:
| Day | Time | Session / Topic | Speaker(s), Facilitators |
| Preparatory phase – Mandatory e-learning (to be completed in advance) | |||
| All registered participants are required to complete the following mandatory WOAH e-learning modules prior to the face-to-face workshop, as part of the blended learning approach: | |||
| Online | 1. The role of risk analysis in international trade : Application of WOAH principles and recommendations for transparent, science-based risk analysis in international trade. | ||
| Online | 2. Selection and implementation of sanitary measures at export and import : Implementation of WOAH Standards and sanitary measures to manage risks associated with international trade in animals and animal products. | ||
| Online | 3. Import health measures: the development steps : Definition of import health measures, application of risk analysis and disease status, and use of WOAH Terrestrial and Aquatic Codes and Manuals. | ||
| Introductory Webinar (online – prior to workshop)
Date – 20 March, 10 am (CET)
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| Online | 10:00–10:15 | Introduction of participants, speakers and facilitators | Dr Budimir Plavsic (WOAH Regional Representative for Europe) |
| Online | 10:15–10:45 | Review of required self-learning content (WOAH e-learning modules) | Dr Hana Abdelsattar (WOAH HQ, Capacity Building Department) |
| Online | 10:45–11:15 | Presentation of scenarios on sanitary measures negotiation | Dr Martin Minassian (WOAH, RR Americas) |
| Online | 11:15- 11:45 | The PVS Information System: Using Evaluation Insights to Support International Trade | Dr Jennifer Lasley (WOAH HQ, Capacity Building Department) |
| Online | 11:45–12:00 | Q&A and practical information | Moderator: Dr Budimir Plavsic |
| Monday – 30 March 2026 (Afternoon), Belgrade | |||
| Mon | Morning | Arrival of participants | |
| Mon | 13:30–14:00 | Welcome, stand-up lunch | |
| Mon | 13:30–14:30 | Registration of participants | WOAH RR Europe |
| Mon | 14:30–15:00 | Opening remarks (WOAH, DG SANTE, Host Country) | Dr Budimir Plavsic (WOAH Regional Representative for Europe)
Dr Bernard Van Goethem (DG SANTE, online) Serbia (tbc) |
| Mon | 15:15–15:45 | Introduction of participants and workshop objectives | Dr Budimir Plavsic |
| Mon | 15:45–16:30 | Practical overview of WOAH Standards in international trade (Terrestrial & Aquatic) | Dr Etienne Bonbon (President, WOAH Terrestrial Code Commission) and Dr Saraya Tavornpanich (Norway Veterinary Institute) |
| Mon | 16:30–17:00 | Group Photo & Coffee break | |
| Mon | 17:00–17:45 | Practical overview of WOAH Standards (continued) | |
| Mon | 17:45-18:00 | EU perspective | Dr Moritz Klemm (DG SANTE) |
| Mon | 18:00–18:15 | Experience from Americas’ exercise on International Trade (Nov 22025) | Dr Martin Minassian (WOAH, RR Americas) |
| Mon | 18:15–19:00 | Quiz & Discussion and Q&A | Dr Charmaine Chng (Head, WOAH Standards Department)
Moderator: Dr Budimir Plavsic |
| Mon | 19:30 | Welcome dinner (WOAH) | |
| Tuesday – 31 March 2026 | |||
| Tue | 09:00–09:20 | Scenario 1 introduction: Trade in terrestrial animal commodities | Dr Charmaine Chng |
| Tue | 09:20–10:45 | Scenario exercise – Terrestrial animals (group work) | Facilitators |
| Tue | 10:45–11:15 | Coffee break | |
| Tue | 11:15–12:30 | Scenario exercise – Terrestrial animals (continued) | Facilitators |
| Tue | 12:30–14:00 | Lunch | |
| Tue | 14:00–15:30 | Scenario exercise – Terrestrial animals (continued) | Facilitators |
| Tue | 15:30–16:00 | Coffee break | |
| Tue | 16:00–16:30 | Presentation of group results (Terrestrial) | Moderator: Dr Etienne Bonbon |
| Tue | 16:30–17:15 | Discussion and lessons learned | Moderator: Dr Charmaine Chng & Facilitators & All participants |
| Tue | 17:15-17:45 | Speakers’ & Facilitators’ Meeting | |
| Tue | 18:00 | Free evening | |
| Wednesday – 1 April 2026 (Morning & Afternoon) | |||
| Wed | 08:30–08:50 | Scenario 2 introduction: Trade in aquatic animal commodities | Dr Saraya Tavornpanich (Norwegian Veterinary Institute) |
| Wed | 08:50–10:15 | Scenario exercise – Aquatic animals (group work) | Facilitators |
| Wed | 10:15–10:45 | Coffee break | |
| Wed | 10:45–12:00 | Scenario exercise – Aquatic animals (continued) | Facilitators |
| Wed | 12:00–13:00 | Lunch | |
| Wed | 13:00–13:45 | Presentation and analysis of scenario results (Aquatic) | Moderator: Dr Saraya Tavornpanich |
| Wed | 13:45–14:30 | Roundtable: improving capacities to facilitate safe trade in Europe | Moderator: Dr Charmaine Chng |
| Wed | 14:30–15:00 | Next steps, networking and workshop closing | Dr Budmir Plavsic |
| Wed 1 Apr | Departure | ||
Facilitators (in alphabetical order): Etienne Bonbon, Charmaine Chng, Maria Fernanda Da Serrano de La Cruz, Mohamed Boukottaya, Akinobu Kawamura, Patricia Kelly, Martin Minassian, Marina Sokolova, Saraya Tavornpanich, Aigerim Zhorgabayeva
