Overview
Biological threats—whether naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberate—continue to pose significant challenges to health systems, economies, and regional stability. In South-East Asia, complex animal production systems, rapid urbanisation, and close interactions between wildlife, livestock, and human populations increase vulnerability to a wide range of biological risks.
To address these challenges, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) organised a Workshop on Biothreat Reduction in South-East Asia, held on 2–3 June 2026 in Bali, Indonesia. The workshop brought together representatives from veterinary services, public health authorities, laboratories, law enforcement, and regional organisations to strengthen multisectoral collaboration and support regional preparedness and response capacities.
The event built on previous regional and global efforts, including the 2025 WOAH Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction and earlier ASEAN-focused initiatives, and expanded discussions from the Virtual Consultative Meeting on Biothreat Reduction held in April 2026.
Objectives
The workshop aimed to:
- Identify priority gaps, challenges, and opportunities for strengthening prevention, detection, and response to biological threats in South-East Asia
- Develop a practical, collaborative regional workplan with concrete actions, timelines, and responsibilities
- Strengthen mechanisms and partnerships across animal health, public health, laboratory, and security sectors
- Explore new avenues for collaboration, including private-sector engagement and cross-border information sharing
Key topics and discussions
Over two days, participants engaged in a combination of technical presentations, country updates, and interactive group exercises. Key themes included:
- Regional and national perspectives on biological risk management
- Multisectoral coordination between animal health, public health, and security sectors
- Laboratory preparedness and biosafety/biosecurity practices
- Mapping of ASEAN mechanisms and partnership frameworks
- Development of sub-regional workplans for biothreat reduction
Interactive “World Café” sessions and group exercises enabled participants to:
- Identify critical gaps in policy, laboratory systems, coordination, and capacity building
- Translate identified gaps into concrete, actionable solutions
- Develop and prioritise regional and national actions for improved preparedness
- Strengthen collaboration pathways across sectors and countries
Participants
The workshop brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including:
- National focal points for laboratory systems and policy/planning from ASEAN Member States
- Representatives from ASEAN bodies (MBT Secretariat, ABSC, ACCAHZ)
- International partners such as INTERPOL and research institutions
- Public health laboratory networks and technical experts
- Private sector and other relevant stakeholders
Outcomes
The workshop resulted in several important achievements:
- A consolidated analysis of regional gaps and needs in biothreat prevention and response
- A jointly developed sub-regional workplan outlining priorities, actions, and coordination mechanisms
- Identification of ASEAN platforms to support sustained collaboration
- Strengthened communication and cooperation between multisectoral stakeholders
- Clearer priorities for capacity development, including joint trainings and simulation exercises
