Middle East Regional Strategy on Animal Welfare Arrangement

1. Prof .H. Aidaros -Dr G. Yehia Middle East Regional Strategy on Animal Welfare Arrangement Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare 17-18 March 2014, Amman, JORDAN

2. Background • Animals have played an important role in the Middle East Region's history and development; and continue to have economic importance for the Region, both as a source of food, fibre and other products and in providing livelihoods. • The 73rd Annual General Session in May 2005 of the International Committee of the OIE agreed on the first global mandate for standards in the field of animal health. Guidelines for animal welfare were adopted at the Session – i.e. slaughter for human consumption, land and sea transport of animals, and humane killing of animals for disease control purposes. • The adoption of these OIE Guidelines provides a clear mandate to efforts to improve animal handling and welfare and the need to apply risk based approaches to animal production systems. Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

3. Animal Welfare in the Middle East • Several workshops and conferences have been organized in the Middle East countries and especially the 2nd Global Conference on Animal Welfare held in Cairo, Egypt in 2008. • The Key outcome from these meetings was agreement to develop a Regional Strategic Plan aimed at assisting member countries to implement improvements in animal handling and management systems with consideration to animal welfare. • According to the above, the Middle East working group on Animal Welfare is presenting a draft of strategic plan based on the MoU established in 2005 by experts from Middle East countries with the assistance of the Australian Government . Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

4. Animal Welfare in the Middle East • The timetable for the proceedings of the implementation will start in January 2014 after a potential adoption of the draft in a working group meeting with countries’ focal points on Animal Welfare which is scheduled to be held in Beirut on the 4rd -6th of December 2012. • The first strategic plan will address compliance with OIE standards on animal welfare with special focus on handling and transportation of animals in the region. • Itwill also address other issues such as animal slaughtering, killing for disease prevention,the control of stray dog population… Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

5. Animal Welfare Strategy in Middle East • The Strategic Plan recognizes the intimate connection that exists between animal welfare and animal health and production, and establishes a framework for sustainable animal welfare outcomes based on scientific evidence, confirming: • Animal welfare/handling is directly linked to animal health, animal production and commercial success; • Animal welfare is an important international issue and of increasing concern to consumers; • The commitment made by the ME countries, and key trading partners, at the OIE General Session to adopt the OIE Animal Welfare Guidelines relating to Transport, Halal Slaughter and Killing for Disease Control Purposes. Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

6. Key Outcomes • The Strategic Plan will provides assistance to ME countries in achieving key outcomes such as: • Developing model regulations for animal welfare throughout the ME countries in respect of management of livestock; • Improving awareness about animal care and handling during transportation . • Improving animal handling facilities at feedlots, markets and slaughter houses. Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

7. Benefits of the Strategic Plan • Improve economic performance from animal production systems across the Region; • Achievement of optimum, sustainable welfare outcomes for animals; • Readily identifiable and clearly defined regional standards; • Increase regional control of animal diseases and zoonoses. Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

8. Implementation • This Strategic Plan sets broad regional goals on animal welfare and provides a framework for sustainable, scientifically based and acceptable animal welfare outcomes. Once the Strategic plan is agreed, an Implementation Plan will be developed. • Under the Strategic Plan, the ME countries will assume responsibility to monitor, review and report on the implementation progress. Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

9. Evaluation • The plan will includes series of training courses on the compliance with the standards taking in consideration regional particularities. • Trainings shall be organized to 2 dividends of the ME region: • Group 1-: GCC countries + Yemen • Group 2 : Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon,PAT and Syria. Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

10. OIE Tool for the Evaluation of Performance of Veterinary Services (Sixth edition, 2013, 47 CC) TECHNICAL AUTHORITY AND CAPABILITY Critical competencies: (…) Section II-13 Animal welfare The authority and capability of the VS to implement the animal welfare standards of the OIE as published in the Terrestrial Code.

11. OIE Tool for the Evaluation of Performance of Veterinary Services (Sixth edition, 2013)

12. Evaluation • The Plan has been developed for the five years period from 1 Jan. 2014 to Dec 2018. A review of the Strategic Plan and associated projects should be undertaken in the first half of 2016 with a view to the development of a subsequent 2016 to 2018 two year plan. • Review of projects under the implementation plan will take place annually to review the progress of activities and ensure that projects remain focused on achieving the goals of the Strategic Plan.  • The evaluation process is currently being developed to include: • a cost benefit analysis contrasting the cost of implementation & compliance costs with the savings from improvements in handling systems and increased value of livestock and livestock products; • a review of the effectiveness of the strategic plan in achieving its goals within the three year timeframe; • recommendations for improving the measurability of animal welfare outcomes to aid in future evaluation and; • the development of a new set of goals, objectives, strategies and timeline for the next phase of the strategic plan. Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

13. Goals and Activities Goal 1: An enhanced regional approach and commitment to ensure high standards of animal welfare based on a legislative framework and standards consistent with the OIE Animal Welfare Guidelines. Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

14. Goals and Activities Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

15. Goals and Activities Goal 2: The provision of funding, coordination and evaluation to support improvements in animal handling systems. Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

16. Goals and Activities Goal 3: The provision of training and development in animal handling, requirements for facilities, product quality and disease management, in both Government and private industry. Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

17. Goals and Activities Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

18. Goals and Activities Goal 4: Sustainable improvements in animal welfare based on regional and international research and development. Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

19. Goals and Activities Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

20. Goals and Activities Goal 5: Effective communication, education and training to promote an improved understanding of animal welfare. Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

21. Goals and Activities Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

22. Proceedings timetable Assessment of stages in Animal Welfare all groups June 2016, Beirut-Lebanon Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare

23. Thanks for your attention!

24. Thank you