Introduction The National Animal Health Surveillance and Diagnostics Business Plan 2016–2019 is Australia’s national business plan for animal health surveillance in Australia. It is intended to guide the efficient and effective delivery of surveillance activities in accordance with nationally agreed objectives and priorities. It has been developed collaboratively by the governments and livestock industries that will be chiefly responsible for its implementation. Background Australia has a relatively favourable animal health status, free from many of the economically important diseases that occur in other parts of the world. Assurance in Australia’s animal health status underpins the green’ image of Australia’s animal industries and our competitive ‘clean, advantage in international markets. It also supports domestic consumer confidence in Australian livestock products. However, Australia is not immune to the threats by exotic and emerging infectious diseases. International trade and travel, intensification of livestock production, new technologies, climate change and other factors are contributing to a growing risk of disease emergence. The social, economic and environmental costs of disease incursions can be exceedingly high. In addition, trading partners and the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) are tending to demand more robust evidence in support of claims of disease freedom. Surveillance enables the identification of exotic, emerging and nationally significant endemic animal diseases. If done well, it provides the necessary information to support disease control policies, programs and reporting requirements. Surveillance is a critical element of an effective and efficient animal health system and a core competency of the Veterinary Service as described by the OIE. The majority of emerging infectious diseases of people are caused by microbes that originate in animals and cross the species barrier to infect humans. For this reason, surveillance and control of diseases in animals is an important measure to safeguard the health of people. Australia’s current capacity for animal health surveillance and diagnostics is outlined briefly in Annex A. These existing surveillance programs and systems provide a strong foundation on which to further build national capacity. The benefits of an effective animal health surveillance system are substantial and far-reaching across governments, livestock industries and the community. The Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB) has recognised that surveillance is a shared responsibility and all parties have a role in Australia’s animal disease surveillance system. With common interests and a diverse range of stakeholders, it is imperative to have a coordinated national approach to strengthening this system.
Introduction The National Animal Health Surveillance and Diagnostics Business Plan 2016–2019 is Australia’s national business plan for animal health surveillance in Australia. It is intended to guide the efficient and effective delivery of surveillance activities in accordance with nationally agreed objectives and priorities. It has been developed collaboratively by the governments and livestock industries that will be chiefly responsible for its implementation. Background Australia has a relatively favourable animal health status, free from many of the economically important diseases that occur in other parts of the world. Assurance in Australia’s animal health status underpins the ‘clean, green’ image of Australia’s animal industries and our competitive advantage in international markets. It also supports domestic consumer confidence in Australian livestock products. However, Australia is not immune to the threats by exotic and emerging infectious diseases. International trade and travel, intensification of livestock production, new technologies, climate change and other factors are contributing to a growing risk of disease emergence. The social, economic and environmental costs of disease incursions can be exceedingly high. In addition, trading partners and the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) are tending to demand more robust evidence in support of claims of disease freedom. Surveillance enables the identification of exotic, emerging and nationally significant endemic animal diseases. If done well, it provides the necessary information to support disease control policies, programs and reporting requirements. Surveillance is a critical element of an effective and efficient animal health system and a core competency of the Veterinary Service as described by the OIE. The majority of emerging infectious diseases of people are caused by microbes that originate in animals and cross the species barrier to infect humans. For this reason, surveillance and control of diseases in animals is an important measure to safeguard the health of people. Australia’s current capacity for animal health surveillance and diagnostics is outlined briefly in Annex A. These existing surveillance programs and systems provide a strong foundation on which to further build national capacity. The benefits of an effective animal health surveillance system are substantial and far-reaching across governments, livestock industries and the community. The Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB) has recognised that surveillance is a shared responsibility and all parties have a role in Australia’s animal disease surveillance system. With common interests and a diverse range of stakeholders, it is imperative to have a coordinated national approach to strengthening this system.
nahsd-business-plan.docx