ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE WORLD ORGANISATION FOR ANIMAL HEALTH

The LLPBN executive for quality assurance attened the 92nd annual general assembly of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) in Paris, France from 25 to 29 may 2025. Of interest to the Namibian livestock sector are the talks regarding vaccination against emerging animal diseases, specifically highly pathogenic avian influenza. There is concensus that vaccination should be used for disease control, but no major producers have yet committed to do so.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the European Union (EU) is in the process of developing new animal welfare regulations and it is clear that animal welfare will become a major trade requirement in future. Discussions with Animal Health RSA did not shed light on the various requests for the waiving of bovine TB and Brucella melitensis testing for cattle and small stock to be exported to South Africa. Attendance for the WOAH assembly remains an excellent opportunity to network and experience animal health discussions in an international light. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), maintains its status as a trade sensitive disease and feared the world over.