Animal Health Committee 15th meeting - Proposed Discussion Items May 2009
Welcome to the Animal Health Committee (AHC) newsletter for animal industry bodies. The aim of Vetcommuniqué is to provide a communication link between AHC and client industry bodies.
AHC membership comprises the Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs) of the Commonwealth, states, territories and New Zealand, and representatives from Biosecurity Australia and CSIRO. The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) and Animal Health Australia (AHA) attend AHC as participants. AHC also meets with industry representatives on specific items from time to time.
Dr Rob Rahaley is the South Australian Chief Veterinary Officer and AHC Chair for 2009.
AHC next meets 11-14 May 2009 in Ballina, NSW. AHC last met on 23 February 2009 in Canberra.
Issues for discussion
Industry involvement
AHC15 face-to-face is having a joint session and dinner with industry on Tuesday 12 May.
Representatives from the following industry groups have been confirmed as attending AHC:
- Cattle Council
- Australian Pork Limited
- Australian Veterinary Association
A representative from the Pestivirus Technical Advisory Group will attend to inform AHC on an industry-wide pestivirus accreditation scheme proposal.
National Livestock Identification System – Sheep and Goats (NLIS [S&G])
The final report of the AHC NLIS (S&G) Working Group will be presented to AHC for endorsement to go to PISC. The report reviews the level of risk associated with current NLIS (S&G) arrangements in meeting the National Traceability Performance Standards and proposes mitigating measures.
NAMP
Animal Health Committee requested that the management and technical groups within the NAMP Committee be separated. The NAMP Coordination Committee structure now comprises the Technical Panel, a Management Committee and other entomologists.
The Technical Panel will provide the Management Committee with advice regarding the direction of research and development. The Management Committee will objectively review operational performance and expenditure.
These groups have functioned separately in 2009 to consider the recommendations of the independent and external Review of arbovirus surveillance needs and the NAMP (the Review) and to conduct the 2009 mid-season review of operational performance and expenditure.
AHC is to comment on and/or endorse the Review and its recommendations. AHC reocommendations will be considered by Animal Health Australia in consultation with the NAMP Management Committee. The NAMP Business Plan (2009/10-2012/13) and Operations Plans (2009/10) will incorporate any changes agreed by the Coordination Committee and be endorsed at the NAMP annual meeting in July 2009.
Integration of Aquatic Animal Health responsibilities into AHC
The National Aquatic Animal Health – Technical Working Group (NAAH TWG) is a technical group which previously reported to Aquatic Animal Health Committee (AAHC). With the winding up of AAHC, and the incorporation their workplan under AHC, NAAH TWG will now become a subcommittee of AHC.
NAAH TWG have agreed that the development of aquatic Australian and New Zealand Standard for Diagnostic Tests (ANZSDTs) can be passed to the AHC Sub-Committee on Animal Health Laboratory Standards (SCAHLS) and an aquatic Industry Reference Group (IRG) be established. NAAH TWG will continue to use ad hoc working groups to address specific issues.
AHC will review and comment on developments.
Equine influenza - National review
The final Report of the National Review of Australia’s Response to the 2007 outbreak of equine influenza (AHA, March 2009) has gone to the PISC. Nine recommendations were made and copies of the report will be made available to the AHA Industry Forum at its meeting on 28 May 2009.
DAFF and AHA are developing a National Action Plan (NAP) in consultation with government and industry, for implementation of the review’s recommendations. This is to be considered by AHC.
EADRA & the horse industry
The Government and Livestock Industry Cost Sharing Deed in Respect of Emergency Animal Disease Responses (the Deed, or EADRA) contains several diseases that affect horses, including equine influenza. However, to date, no sector of the horse industry is a signatory to the Deed. AHC will discuss the implications of this, and how this could impact a future response to an equine influenza outbreak
PIMC EI Expert Review Panel
A progress report will be provided by DAFF on the review being undertaken by the EI Expert Review Panel (Chaired by Roger Beale AO) on future possible response scenarios for equine influenza and their economic impact.
Bovine Tuberculosis EADRA schedule working group
At its last meeting (23 February 2009), AHC endorsed the formation of the AHC TB/EADRA Working Group to provide AHC with information and advice on the technical grounds for inclusion of bovine tuberculosis without qualification in the EADRA from December 2010. The planned review of the Australian Bovine Tuberculosis Surveillance Project will be addressed within this task.
The Working Group is chaired by AHA with membership from the Cattle Council, DAFF, Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia. AHC will review work done by the Working Group to date.
Key Contacts
- Dr Rob Rahaley (AHC Chair), South Australian CVO, Ph: 08 8207 7970
- Dr Adrian Coghill (AHC Secretary), switchboard: 02 6272 3933
- Dr Andy Carroll, Australian CVO, switchboard: 02 6272 3933
- Dr Hugh Millar, Victorian CVO, Ph: 03 9217 4247
- Dr Bruce Christie, New South Wales CVO, Ph: 02 6391 3717
- Dr Brian Radunz, Northern Territory CVO, Ph: 08 8999 2130
- Dr Ron Glanville, Queensland CVO, Ph: 07 3239 3525
- Dr Rod Andrewartha, Tasmanian CVO, Ph: 03 6233 6836
- Dr Peter Buckman, Western Australian CVO, Ph: 08 9368 3342
- Dr Will Andrew, Australian Capital Territory CVO, 02 6207 2357
- Dr Robyn Martin, Biosecurity Australia, switchboard: 02 6272 3933
- Dr Narelle Clegg, Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, Ph: 02 6272 4523
- Dr Martyn Jeggo, Australian Animal Health Laboratories, Ph: 03 5227 5511
- Dr Eva-Maria Bernoth, Animal Health Australia, Ph: 02 6203 3944