Asia-Pacific region to benefit from newly-approved OIE Reference Laboratories and OIE official disease free status
Due to the global exceptional circumstances linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, the OIE has not been able to hold its General Session in 2020. However, the organisation continues to strive to support our Members. Specific resolutions have been proposed for adoption by the World Assembly of OIE Delegates, by virtue of the establishment of an adapted procedure.
In Asia and the Pacific Region, we are pleased to announce that several of our Members have received new approved designations of OIE Reference Laboratories.
- OIE Reference Laboratory for African swine fever: the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (formerly the Australian Animal Health Laboratory), CSIRO in Geelong, Australia. Dr David Williams is the designated expert.
- OIE Reference Laboratory for classical swine fever: the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (formerly the Australian Animal Health Laboratory), CSIRO in Geelong, Australia. Professor Trevor Drew is the designated expert.
- OIE Reference Laboratory for highly pathogenic avian influenza and low pathogenic avian influenza: Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Gimcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea. Dr Youn-Jeong Lee is the designated expert.
- OIE Reference Laboratory for rabies: KVAFSU-CVA Rabies Diagnostic Laboratory, Veterinary College, KVAFSU, Bangalore, India. Dr Shrikrishna Isloor is the designated expert.
In addition, one zone in Chinese Taipei has received OIE Foot and mouth disease (FMD) free status where vaccination is not practised.
Congratulations on these confirmations and for ongoing collaborations within the region.