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Animal Health and International Trade Committee Report
April 7, 2004

The Animal Health and International Trade (AHIT) Committee met at Amethyst Ballroom on Wednesday, April 6, 2004 from 12:00noon to 3:05pm, during the NIAA 2004 Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, UT.

There were 23 to 25 people that attended the session (partial list of names included).

Dr. Alfonso Torres, AHIT Vice-Chair served as a moderator of the session on “Current international animal health issues and trade challenges for the US”. The agenda included the following presentations:

1.      “Update of current issues at the World Animal Health Organization (OIE).”

Dr. Alfonso Torres covered the topic assigned to Dr. Michael David, USDA, APHIS, VS, who was unable to attend the meeting. Dr. Torres incorporated a short background on the OIE with some notes provided by Dr. David dealing with the issues to be discussed at the upcoming OIE meeting in Paris this May.

2.      “Exotic Newcastle Disease, Economic Impacts”

Dr. Jennifer L. Grannis, Agricultural Economist from the Center for Emerging Issues at USDA, APHIS, VS, Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health reviewed their calculations on the direct impact of the END outbreak in southern California in relation to international trade of poultry and poultry products from the US in general, as well as from the affected states. It was indicated that while the trade impact was significant for the states of California and Texas, the national impact on trade was very small, in great part due to the ability of the US to regionalize the affected areas.

3.      “Status of the Hemispheric Plan for the Eradication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease”

Dr. Alfonso Torres, from Cornell University and Vice-Chair from the AHIT Committee, presented a historical review of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) situation in the Americas. Emphasis was made on the recent advances on the eradication of FMD in South America, despite of the setbacks due to the large outbreaks of FMD suffered by Uruguay and Argentina during 2001. He presented also a summary of the recent activities as a result of the Conference on the Hemispheric Plan for the Eradication of FMD held at Houston, TX on March 3-5, 2004. This conference led to a desire to revitalize the hemispheric plan for the eradication of FMD through a comprehensive review of the hemispheric plan by an International Working Group representing the public and private sector of all the regions in the Americas that are part of the Hemispheric Plan for the Eradication of FMD (COHEFA). An interim Executive Committee of this working group met in Montevideo, Uruguay in March 14-15, 2004, and the full interim International Working Group met in Santa Cruz, Bolivia on April 3, 2004. Further meetings are scheduled to take place before September 2004. The delegates from the North American Region to this international working group are Mr. Philip E. Bradshaw representing the private sector, and Dr. Alfonso Torres representing the public sector. Dr. Torres was elected as the coordinator of this International Working Group.

4.      Resolutions

The AHIT Committee reviewed the existing NIAA resolutions and made some recommendations for termination, amendments and reaffirmations. (Copy included in the diskette).

5.      General Discussion

Finally, the AHIT Committee briefly discussed the proposal from the Swine Species Committee requesting support for agricultural exemptions of the Jones Act of 1920. The committee felt that this is an important initiative and resolution and supports its approval.

The AHIT Committee adjourned at 3:05 pm