Dr Mark Schipp on the WOAH 90th General Session

_{Image: Australia’s delegation to the 90th WOAH General Session and WOAH secondees (credit: WOAH)}

 

General Session returns to Paris  

In the historic halls of the Maison de la Chimie in Paris, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) held its 90th General Session in late May, with global representatives from WOAH’s 183 member countries. With in-person attendance for the first time since 2019, I led Australia’s 13-member delegation to the event.  

The week was a huge success with positive outcomes for the direction of WOAH, the scientific rigour of international animal health standards, and the future control of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI).  
 

Animal Health Forum: high pathogenicity avian influenza  

HPAI is an increasingly significant animal health emergency abroad. Australia and Antarctica are the only continents to remain free from an H5N1 subtype that has caused the most recent severe impacts seen internationally. So, it was fitting that HPAI was the theme for this year’s General Session.  

Over the first day and half, an Animal Health Forum allowed WOAH members and experts to discuss the strategic challenges in the global control of HPAI. There was a focus on surveillance and monitoring, control strategies, safe trade, and global coordination. Our delegation contributed their diverse expertise to this global discussion and gained insights to better understand other countries’ situations. 

^{Image: panel discussion on HPAI during the Animal Health Forum (credit: DAFF)}

Key topics that were discussed included the global data sharing and transparency needed to account for the ever-changing nature of HPAI, the role of tools like vaccines to complement conventional control measures like biosecurity and depopulation, and a reinforcement of the need for a central pillar of trust amongst members for progressive HPAI control and harmonious trade. 

Ultimately, discussions are futile without action. Following the forum, members collectively drafted and adopted a resolution. I was in the writing group for this resolution and provided comments from Australia, including the need for HPAI control to be underpinned by One Health. The resolution contained recommendations to help prevent and control the current HPAI situation. These include the transparent and timely sharing of surveillance and genetic data; developing and conducting cost-efficient, risk-based, and comprehensive monitoring in domestic birds, wild birds, and other susceptible species; and supporting poultry keepers, particularly small holders, in implementing robust biosecurity practices.  

The resolution also recommends that WOAH members and the poultry sector consider tools like avian influenza vaccination as auxiliaries to conventional biosecurity measures, guided by good vaccine stewardship. Appropriate vaccine usage shouldn’t negatively impact trade and WOAH members should respect and implement the WOAH standards.  

 

WOAH Terrestrial Code chapters 

In my April article, I highlighted the importance of international standards. Australia advocates for science-based international standards that don’t impose unjustified trade barriers. I am pleased to report successful outcomes around the adoption of numerous robust standards. 

^{Image: WOAH delegates gather at the General Session ahead of voting on WOAH international standards (credit: WOAH)}

However, representing the concerns of Australian stakeholders, we also raised issues around the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and rabies standards. The FMD standards need to provide stronger measures to manage the risk of FMD spread through contaminated milk. Similarly, the rabies standards must maintain strong measures to detect the disease before animals are exported.  

During the proceedings, I delivered an intervention on our FMD concerns. Working with the Quads Alliance (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America), a joint intervention was also delivered on the concerns around rabies. Noting the shared concerns amongst members, WOAH agreed to postpone the adoption of the FMD chapter and exclude the articles of concern from the adoption of the rabies chapter. Both standards will undergo further consultation.  

WOAH’s receptiveness to member feedback should be commended, particularly around bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). These standards were postponed last year following concerns voiced by Australia and other countries that if adopted the standards would inappropriately characterise atypical BSE and may impact some countries’ official status with regards to being free of BSE. With these concerns now resolved, this chapter was adopted.  

 

Wildlife Health Australia designated as a WOAH Collaborating Centre 

Congratulations to Wildlife Health Australia (WHA) for receiving their status at the General Session a WOAH Collaborating Centre for Wildlife Health Risk Management! Collaborating Centres provide scientific expertise and support to WOAH and its Members, and promote international collaboration on animal health and welfare.  

^{Image: Mark Schipp with WHA representatives Tiggy Grillo and Steve Unwin, alongside WOAH Director General Monique Eloit (credit: WOAH)}

WHA is a pillar for sustainable wildlife health in Australia. Their domestic and international networks extend across first nations communities, zoos, government and non-government organisations, universities, research institutes, private veterinarians, wildlife carer groups and now WOAH as well. 

 

Australia’s delegation 

Australia’s contributions to the General Session and our achievements were only possible through the work of our delegation. A special mention to AVA President Bronwyn Orr for bringing the AVA’s insights, and her baby Jocelyn! The number of participants in our delegation reflects the significant contributions and leadership of Australians in global animal health.  

Ingo Ernst is the President of the Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission and chaired the session where all key aquatic animal standards were adopted. Frank Wong shared his expertise as a panellist in Animal Health Forum, speaking on avian influenza surveillance. Trevor Drew is the Vice-President of the Scientific Commission for Animal Disease and played a large role in the robustness of WOAH’s scientific approach. 

Australians were spotted across the General Session floor, with Katherine Gregory, Melanie Allen, Luke York, and Tiggy Grillo running General Session kiosks – building connections with other members and sharing useful knowledge. Thank you to everyone who attended for your expertise and contribution. 

 

WOAH turns 100 

Next year’s General Session will take place from 26 to 30 May marking the 100-year anniversary of the organisation. Amongst the celebrations, WOAH will continue to ensure its efficacy into the next 100 years. WOAH is reviewing its constitution and increasingly investing into digitalisation and its data governance. Membership fees are being increased to account for the organisation’s increased scope of critical work and global inflationary pressures. This increase will support the organisation’s future, implementation of their 7th Strategic Plan, and ongoing activities in improving animal health and welfare. 

We are already looking forward to celebrating WOAH’s achievements into the next century.   

For the latest updates on the work of the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer, please follow our Twitter channel, and you can also follow me on LinkedIn and the Australian Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Beth Cookson on LinkedIn.