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The ability of countries to clearly demonstrate their animal health status is of increasing importance in the trade of aquatic and livestock products. Exporting countries are expected to have in place competent authorities who can report their country’s health status using systems that meet with international standards. In order to be able to meet these requirements most Pacific countries currently require a degree of capacity building assistance.
This lack of animal health reporting capacity has become a specific trade facilitation issue affecting the Pacific region’s export trade in ornamental aquatic species worth approximately USD 20 million annually. In 2009 the European Union (EU) introduced new legislation requiring competent authorities to meet particular reporting requirements including mandatory country membership of the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE). At present only Fiji, Vanuatu, PNG and New Caledonia are members of OIE.
In order to overcome this trade issue SPC negotiated with the EU the maintenance of market access conditional upon the establishment of improved animal health reporting in the Pacific utilising the OIE’s web based World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS). Initial training on this system was conducted for a number of countries in July 2009 by SPC in association with OIE. However subsequent follow up has shown that additional work is required in order to strengthen countries ability to comply with the reporting requirements and operate the system.
To address this issue a regional workshop is proposed to train appropriate fisheries, quarantine and animal health staff in the use of the WAHIS system and animal health reporting procedures. The focus of the work shop will be to ensure countries currently exporting aquatic ornamentals are able to comply with OIE reporting procedures. However the training in the WAHIS system will also strengthen their ability to demonstrate the health status in regard to other potential aquatic and livestock export products. The workshop will also be an opportunity to discuss the possible scope and functions of regional animal health information systems that could be developed specifically for the Pacific region.
The key objectives of the workshop are to:
• Provide an overview of World Animal Health Information Management System (WAHIS);
• Provide practical training in the use of WAHIS applications;
• Facilitate the development of disease reporting systems in non-OIE member countries (for both terrestrial and aquatic animal commodities – including ornamental fish);
• Enable Pacific Island countries and territories to contribute to the potential design of a regional disease reporting system;
• Provide information on the implications of EU legislative amendments for countries that export ornamental fish to the EU;
• Assist selected countries to actually lodge their first country report using WAHIS.
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