Enhancing Veterinary Legislation: Donor Perspectives and European Commission Programs

1. Solutions and tools to improve veterinary legislationThe Donors’ perspectiveEuropean Commission

2. Content • General approach to technical cooperation within the European Commission • A snapshot of existing and future programmes in the area of animal health • Examples of programmes in Africa, America, Asia • Specific cooperation programmes in European Neighbourhood Countries and Candidate Countries • “Better training for safer food” animal health activities • Challenges

3. Programming phase Country Strategy Papers agreed with the Partner Country, as well as overall analysis of country context and country needs Selection of response strategy with priority sectors with indicative amounts, e.g.: Human and Social Development 35% Governance and Human Rights 25% Economic and Trade Development 20% Other 20% Under “Economic Trade Development”, possible projects to support SPS

4. The EC’s financing decision Annual Action Plan (AAP) All projects financed under a country, regional or thematic programme during the same year To be approved by the Commission = decision for all the actions of the AAP The result of the financing decision is then the conclusion of a ‘Financing Agreement’ (programme/project) What a donor expects is that the investment will be useful in the long run: sustainability. This implies a legislative and regulatory framework.

5. Snapshot of existing and futureEuropean Commission Assistance programmes in the veterinary area: An overview – The place of legislation • In “ACP” countries, especially Africa • In Asia • In South America (Chile) • In European Neighbourhood Countries • In Candidate Countries

6. Overview SPS support by region

7. “SPINAP” “Support to Avian and Human Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response in ACP countries” • To contribute to the reduction of the impact of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) by assisting in the preparation against and control of HPAI in animals, as well as preparing for a possible human influenza pandemic • Will improve monitoring, prevention and control of HPAI and other zoonoses: efficient field action is a consequence of good legislation • Will increase human influenza pandemic preparedness: intersectoral cooperation is to be included in regulations • Budget 30M€, for ACP – African (Sub-Saharan) countries

8. “EDES” “Strengthening Food Safety Systems through SPS measures” • all-ACP programme, 30 M€, started March 2010 • covers all SPS aspects (human, animal and plant health, feed), to improve contribution of food and feed trade to poverty reduction • aims at strengthening food safety systems, in particular for export products, • focus more on public sector, in partnership with the private sector • “systems” and “measures” are the result of the implementation of a balanced and exhaustive legislation

9. “VACNADA” “Vaccines for the Control of Neglected Animal Diseases in Africa” • Under the EU € 1 billionFood Facility: rapid response to alleviate the consequences of the volatile food prices amongst vulnerable rural African communities by improving the health of livestock • For selected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, budget 20M€ • To provide vaccines and improve vaccine production and distribution to reduce impact of : ND, CCPP, PPR and CBPP • Cannot achieve all its objectives if not linked with an adapted legislation on vet medicines and on disease control – prophylaxis, based on the international standards (OIE Code and Manual)

10. “AFRICA VETERINARY GOVERNANCE” To promote Veterinary Governance in Africa • 30 M°€, sub-Saharan African intervention to minimise socio-economic impact of infectious diseases • Improve contribution of livestock to food security and safety, economic growth and poverty reduction in Africa • Improve the institutional environment at national and regional level to provide effective and efficient animal health services in Africa: how to achieve that without legislation? • will secure access to efficient existing tools and mechanisms (such as PVS, vaccine banks, CMC, etc…) • OIE is partner therein and will carry out PVS pathway, also AU-IBAR and FAO

11. “ASIA/ HPED” Regional cooperation programme on highly pathogenic and emerging and re-emerging diseases (HPED) • To minimize the socio-economic impacts of HPED by strengthening the capacity of regional institutions in Asia • Will improve public health and veterinary public health competencies: check the legislation and organisation • Will strengthen the institutional capacities of ASEAN and of SAARC and their secretariats to control HPED and improve epidemic and pandemic preparedness • 20 M€ • In collaboration with OIE/FAO/WHO

12. EU-Chile SPS Agreement and Animal Welfare: a legislative success story Establishment of an AW Unit in SAG Appointment of the OIE Collaborating Centre on AW AW in the EU-Chile SPS Agreement Favourable conditions to promote Development of 4 implementing AW Regulations (Animal Protection Law N°20.380) Scientific networking and expertise on AW Improved livestock conditions

13. 1) Bilateral programmes “Support the Implementation of the Association Agreements” Twinning projects: most projects are aimed at strengthening institutional capacity for food safety, animal and plant health surveillance. Expert mission programs and workshops All are based on the existing and projected legislation, adapting it to the local and international needs European Neighbourhood Policy 13

14. 2) Regional programmes: Quality (CA and testing) and Markets (regulatory framework), Training to Public Administrations 3) Eradication programmes: Veterinary Fund (DG SANCO), e.g. Rabies 4) Collaboration with International Organisations (OIE, FAO,…): Conferences on animal health, Networking in the EU-MED and Black Sea region, OIE/FAO GF-TADs Steering Committee for Europe + links with other regions, EU-FMD… All include legislation or implementation of a legislation European Neighbourhood Policy 14

15. DG Health and Consumers • The role of the Directorate General Health and Consumers (DG SANCO) of the EC is to help channel into and address specific needs, especially veterinary public health needs, in existing programmes or design specific programmes, with a strong coordination with the DG of the External Relations “family” (Relex, Development, Europaid, Trade) • Design an “ad hoc” flexible instrument • “Better training for safer food” programme

16. Achievements:Better training for safer food (BTSF) • Targeted training on EU import conditions and EU SPS standards • Mainly intended for EU Member States, but also for Third Countries • Workshops with focus on theory and practice, case studies, simulation exercises (both in Brussels as well as in TC) • hands-on training on specific subjects (specific topics, laboratory training both in EU MS as in TC) • “ad hoc” trainings in TC > flexible, targeted, demand-driven, tailor-made

17. Future Achievements: BTSF Africa • Apart from regional workshops and ‘ad hoc’ trainings also cooperation with OIE: • Evaluation of Performance of VS + follow-up • Improvement of national / regional legal framework • Laboratory capacity (twinning) • Training of CVOs / National Focal Points

18. Challenges • Coordination within the EU • Coordination with other donors • Common international strategy and approach, possible standard / reference

19. Further Information: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/index_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/food/training_strategy/index_en.htm

20. Thank you for your attention!