Following the Expert Consultation Meeting on Aquatic Animal Disease Diagnosis and Control which took place in November 2018 in Bangkok (Thailand), a Regional Collaboration Framework was proposed to be established in the region. The proposed Regional Collaboration Framework on Aquatic Animal Health in Asia and the Pacific (hereinafter referred to as “the Framework”) will initially focus on building a framework of actors to strengthen laboratory capacity for aquatic animal disease activities in Asia and the Pacific such as emergency responses to disease outbreaks. It also intends to contribute to improved information sharing among World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE) Reference Centres and WOAH Member Countries regarding aquatic animal health issues.
An ad hoc Steering Committee was established in July 2019 to materialize and formalize the platform through developing a draft Terms of Reference (ToR) and Work Plan for the Framework. The activities under the Regional Collaboration Framework will be reported to the Regional Commission for Asia, the Far East and Oceania.
