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Animal Health and International Trade Committee
Mid-Year Report
September 9, 2003

During the 2003 NIAA Leaders Forum, the following report was given:

Resolutions

The resolution listed below from this Committee was discussed in May 2003 with Veterinary Services personnel including Dr. Ron DeHaven, Dr. John Clifford, Dr. Valerie Ragan, Dr. Tom Walton, Dr. Michael Gilsdorf and Dr. Joseph Annelli.  The recent experiences with Postweaning Multi-systemic Wasting Syndrome in the U.K. were used to highlight the need for activity of this resolution.  Dr. Beth Lautner attended this meeting.

Addressing the Impact of Emerging Diseases in International Trade

BACKGROUND:   Currently OIE develops standards for international trade on most known animal diseases and USDA develops regulations and implements import policies related to diseases codified by OIE or caused by other identified agents.  However, disease conditions may emerge where the etiologic agent(s) are not identified for some time but a case definition could be established.  In addition, while an etiologic agent may be associated with a disease, but the severity of the disease may have different manifestations or disease severity in various populations.  The challenge is how to protect the U.S. animal agriculture from these emerging diseases or more severe clinical manifestations of known agents while meeting international trade obligations. There is a need to develop some policy guidelines on how to handle these situations.

RESOLUTION:  NIAA encourages USDA to discuss with states, academia, and industry options to protect U.S. animal population from emerging diseases while meeting our international trade obligations.  A report of these discussions should be given at the 2004 NIAA Animal Health and International Trade Committee meeting. 

OIE Animal Welfare Initiative

A meeting was held with Dr. Michael David to discuss the activities of OIE.  The First Global Conference on Animal Welfare will be convened on February 23-25 by OIE in Paris, France.  Dr. Lautner and Dr. Torres will work with committee members to submit names to USDA based on their request.

Coordination with USAHA

Drs. Torres and Lautner participated in the USAHA/AAVLD International Standards Committee meeting held in August.  This Committee is chaired by Dr. Joan Arnoldi.

Dr. Beth Lautner                                      Dr. Alfonso Torres
Chair, Animal Health & Int’l Trade            Vice Chair, Animal Health & Int’l Trade Committee