Institutional links
International
Australia - National Animal Health Strategy (2005-2010)
March/2007- Purpose
- Context
- Scope
- Objectives
- Accountability
- Implementation
- Definitions
- Of Note to Canada
- Ressources
Purpose
The purpose of Australia’s National Animal Health Strategy is to respond to greater pressure from consumers and international trading partners (early 1990s) for an increased accountability of animal health, and to counter the threat of new and emerging diseases as more animals and people move within and across national borders.
Context
Australia has historically been free from major animal diseases because of its geographical isolation. However, during the 1990s, it became apparent that consumers as well as the national and international trading partners required increased accountability for animal health, specifically in the areas of food safety, freedom from animal diseases, international trade in livestock and livestock products, and the changing national structure in the management and delivery of animal health services.
Australian Animal Health Council Limited was formed and incorporated under Australian Corporations law in 1996 and began operations as a non-profit organization under the business name of Animal Health Australia (AHA) in 2000. AHA is a not-for-profit company, made up of representatives from national, state and territorial governments and major national livestock industry organizations.
AHA developed the National Animal Health Strategic Framework, which in turn defined the National Animal Health Strategy.
Scope
- This strategy deals with the animal health status of Australia’s major commercial terrestrial livestock species: sheep, cattle, goats, horses and pigs
- This strategy also includes the health status of wildlife species where the interaction between livestock and these wild species could affect human health and international trade, and/or the productivity and sustainability of livestock industries even though Australia recognizes that the health of wild/ feral animals is significant to biodiversity, conservation and environmental management
- Major programs managed by the AHA company:
- Animal Disease Surveillance
- Emergency Animal Disease Preparedness
- Animal Health Services
- Special Programs (Newcastle Disease Management Plan, Avian Influenza…)
- Johne’s Disease
- Training Programs
- Planning and Communication
- Corporate Activities
- Key components:
- communicate to domestic and international markets about the co-ordinated national animal health strategy
- clarify roles, responsibilities and activities of government and private stakeholders
- identify and prioritize opportunities to improve in the performance of the strategy and effectively use available resources
- define and communicate biosecurity risks in order to maintain market access and industry prosperity
Objectives
- To create a nationally consistent and coordinated approach to animal health, and communicate this approach to domestic and international consumers and partners
- To identify and prioritize opportunities to improve the performance of the national animal health system, and effectively deploy available resources
- To coordinate the animal health related activities of both government departments/agencies and livestock industry stakeholders
- To objectively assess performance by evaluating outcomes rather than inputs
- To define and communicate any biosecurity risks that require management, in order to maintain market access and overall livestock industry prosperity
- To fully engage livestock producers and associated services in the national animal health system
- To apply risk assessment processes to the allocation and management of available animal health resources
Accountability
Animal Health Australia(AHA): a company of government and industry organization representatives.
Implementation
Operational Priorities include:
- National Surveillance Strategy
- Exotic animal disease Preparedness, Response and Recovery
- Effective endemic disease programs
- National Diagnostic capability
- Human and animal health linkages
- Livestock welfare
Implementation Priorities include:
- leadership, awareness and engagement
- applying appropriate technologies
- improving information management
- providing/using accredited education and training
- co-ordinating research and development
Definitions
- Animal health is not specifically defined
- The Australian Dept. of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has developed a separate Australian Animal Welfare Strategy to recognise the connection between animal welfare and animal health and production
- The office of the Chief Veterinary Officer within the Australian Dept. of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has also developed Aquaplan, a national strategy for Aquatic Animal Health
Of Note to Canada
- A collaborative approach to animal health by various levels of governments and industry stakeholders
- AHA is successfully implementing this strategy by partnering government and industry to make decisions with a collective voice rather than through regulations