fao-naca technical guidelines on responsible movement … · fao-naca technical guidelines on...

FAO-NACA Technical Guidelines on Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic

Animals

Eduardo M. Leaño and C.V Mohan Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific Bangkok, Thailand

Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific

Intent

Assist countries to undertake movement of live aquatic animals in a way that minimizes the disease risks associated with pathogen transfer and disease spread, both within and across boundaries

2000

Purpose Enhance the protection of

aquatic environment and biodiversity, as well as the interest of aquaculture and capture fisheries;

Provide a mechanism to facilitate trade of aquatic animals;

Avoid unjustifiable trade barriers based on AAH issues

Guiding Principles

1) Movement of living aquatic animals within and across national boundaries is a necessity for economic, social and development purposes;

Guiding Principles

2) Movement may lead to introduction of new and emerging pathogens and to disease establishment – may pose risks to importing country’s animal, plant and human health status;

3) Role of AAH management: reduce the risk arising from the entry, establishment or spread of pathogens to a manageable level. AAH management should protect:

o Plant, animal and human lives

o Living aquatic resources

o Natural aquatic environment

o Aquatic biodiversity

o Trade

Guiding Principles

4) AAH management process encompasses the following in regard to movement of live aquatic animals: o Pre-border (exporter), border and post-

border (importer) activities;

o Relevant national and regional capacity building requirements;

o Development and implementation of effective national and regional policies and regulatory frameworks

Guiding Principles

5) AAH management measures should be practical, cost-effective and easy to implement;

6) The varying capacity of developing countries to implement programmes on AAH management should be acknowledged by relevant international organizations and financial institutions;

7) AAH management measures shall be based on an assessment of the risk to animal, plant and human life or health. This includes: o Prevalence of specific pathogens in both regions of origin and

destination;

o Likelihood of new or emerging pathogens becoming established in the region of destination.

Guiding Principles

8) All movements: within the provisions given in existing international agreements and instruments;

9) In determining the appropriate level of AAH measures to be applied, relevant ecological and economic factors have to be considered;

10) The first movement (introduction) of a new species into a new area will require special AAH management considerations: evaluate scientific evidence regarding the risk of introduction.

Guiding Principles

11) Harmonization of AAH management procedures to facilitate safe movement of aquatic animals;

12) Free movement of aquatic species in transboundary waterways: division of region into sub-regional units for effective implementation of AAH management procedures;

13) Honest, conscientious and transparent disease reporting is essential for effective AAH management;

14) Technical cooperation among regional experts: promote exchange of information and expertise;

15) Collaboration among government, public institutions and the private sector: important in the effective implementation of AAH management strategies.

Major Elements

Disease diagnosis

Health certification and quarantine measures

Zoning

Disease surveillance and reporting

Contingency planning

Import risk analysis

National strategies and policy frameworks

Progress made by 21 member governments (Asia Regional AAH Programme) on the major components listed in the Asia Regional Technical Guidelines.

Elements in the Technical Guidelines

Progress Made in Asia-Pacific (Number of Countries)

Good Moderate Low

Disease diagnosis 10 6 5


10 5 6

Disease zoning 3 3 15


8 8 5

Contingency planning 3 7 11

Import risk analysis 4 4 13


11 4 6

Major Elements

Disease diagnosis Progress/Status Gaps/Opportunities

• Diagnostic capabilities have improved in many countries (most using level II and III);

• NACA disease cards developed for important and emerging diseases;

• Asia regional diagnostic manual and field guide developed;

• Regional reference laboratories (OIE Reference Labs);

• Regional resource experts; • Laboratory proficiency testing

programs have been run.

• OIE twinning programs: further assist laboratories to develop capabilities;

• Exact status of diagnostic capacities of individual countries is not certain;

• Some areas of specialist diagnostic expertise are lacking;

• Need for more comprehensive laboratory proficiency testing programs


Progress/Status Gaps/Opportunities

• Strong progess: high risk importation (e.g. seeds and broodstock);

• Training: through regional initiatives (e.g. AADCP project);

• Improved certification practices: driven by commercial/trade implications;

• Harmonization with OIE standards

• The importance of supporting AAH attestations through sound AAH programs continues to be underestimated;

• Some inappropriate/illegal activities continue to threaten spread of transboundary diseases

Disease zoning and compartmentalisation


• An emerging need to meet requirements of importing countries;

• To facilitate trade, some countries are working toward having compartments and zones recognized.

• Identification of common health status: trade restrictions can be reduced;

• Training opportunities; • Learn from experience of

terrestrial animal industries (e.g. poultry)

Zoning (and compartmentalisation): allows for a part of a nation’s territory to be identified as free of a particular disease (rather than demonstrating that the entire country is free). Zoning is also an efficient tool to restrict spread of important pathogens and aid in their eradication



• Regional QAAD reporting system established;

• Many countries have established national list of diseases for reporting purposes;

• Many published resources are available (OIE, NACA, DAFF);

• Collation of surveillance information has improved through participation in international (OIE) reporting

• Participation could improve further: some countries report irregularly and some totally stopped;

• Regional core of OIE’s WAHIS: streamline reporting and may improve participation;

• Continuous reliance on passive rather than active surveillance (due to cost barrier): effective but low-cost active surveillance methodologies needed;

• Exact status of individual countries not known: adoption of national lists and supporting legislations;

• Epidemiological expertise limited; • Need to increase surveillance of

wildlife to support health status.

Contingency planning Progress/Status Gaps/Opportunities

• Highly important: rapid and planned response for containment of a disease outbreak; few countries have advanced contingency planning with appropriate supporting legislations;

• Some countries tested contingency plans through simulation exercises (eg. Australia, Thailand);

• Resources are available (AQUAVETPLAN, FAO and OIE guidelines)

• Individual country’s status: not certain or lacking;

• Training needed: emergency response and management frameworks;

• Support for developing contingency plans: directed at a particular disease threats (e.g. IMN, AHPNS).

Import risk analysis Progress/Status Gaps/Opportunities

• Numerous resources and case studies published;

• Approach has been applied for some particular circumstances (e.g. import of live P. vannamei)

• Regional training has been provided (e.g. AADCP project)

• IRA not applied appropriately in some cases;

• Need to build awareness of the concept;

• Training: aim at trainees learning on scenarios relevant to their circumstances;

• IRA: high priority generic need – suited for development of a central training program.



• Many countries have developed national strategies on AAH management;

• Assistance has been provided to some countries (e.g. AADCP project; OIE PVS; FAO TCP)

• IRA not applied appropriately in some cases;

• Need to build awareness of the concept;

• Training: aim at trainees learning on scenarios relevant to their circumstances;

• IRA: high priority generic need – suited for development of a central training program.

Current status

Implementation of Asia Regional TG in most of the NACA member governments lacks proper assessment to identify gaps and issues: results in the less efficient national strategies for AAH management;

While progress has been made since the formulation of the TG, only few member governments have well-established preparedness and response measures, especially with regard to disease zoning, contingency planning and import risk analysis.

Current status

There should be better understanding on capacities and capabilities of the member countries in the overall implementation of the TG (a recognized framework across the region);

Country level: important to determine up to what extent that TG implementation can be assessed: could be used in developing programs/projects in the country;

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