Empowered Committee for Animal Health reviews advancements made in the sector
Mock Drill Planned to Enhance Operational Readiness for Animal Disease Responses in the Country
The 8th meeting of the Empowered Committee for Animal Health (ECAH) of
the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) was held on October 28,
2024, under the chairmanship of Prof Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific
Adviser to the Government of India, and vice-chaired by Alka Upadhyaya,
Secretary, DAHD, at Vigyan Bhawan.
The representatives of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR),
Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR), Department of Biotechnology (DBT) etc. were present as a
member to discuss advancements in India’s animal health sector.
During the
meeting, the department highlighted the efforts and the achievements made so
far in regulatory streamlining of animal drugs, vaccines, biologicals, and feed
additives. The department also reported significant progress made in various
on-going vaccination programs for livestock diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth
Disease (FMD), Brucellosis, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR),
and Classical Swine Fever (CSF) that is receiving 100% central funding under
the Livestock Health & Disease Control Program (LH&DCP). Notably, all
these vaccines are developed indigenously and manufactured domestically,
demonstrating India's commitment to self-sufficiency and global cooperation in
animal health. Furthermore, the Principal
Scientific Advisor was also briefed about the progress made on the National
Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM), that aims to digitally identify and register
all livestock and animal husbandry activities, including vaccination, breeding,
and treatment in the country. The digital platform is currently handling over
16 transactions every second, showcasing the program's extensive reach and
efficiency.
Under the One
Health Mission, the department will soon conduct a mock drill focused on animal
disease response to improve operational readiness for disease management. Prof
Ajay Kumar Sood also lauded the launch of the $25 million G -20 Pandemic Fund
Project recently along with The Standard Veterinary Treatment Guidelines (SVTG)
and the Crisis Management Plan (CMP) for Animal Diseases. The Pandemic Fund
Project aims to fortify laboratory capacities, enhanced disease surveillance
and strengthen human resource to bolster resilience in animal health systems in
the country.
The ECAH
also deliberated upon the recently released Poultry Disease Action Plan that
lays emphasis on proactive disease management through biosecurity measures,
enhanced surveillance, and vaccination protocols, thereby safeguarding both poultry
population and public health in India. In
response to the High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in Kerala in
the past, the department has developed a comprehensive strategy to control and
contain the disease spread, preventing significant public health hazards. It
was informed, during the meeting that Compensation rates for forced culling of
poultry were revised and communicated to all states and UTs during the
month of September by the department.
It was also
highlighted that World Organisation for
Animal Health (WOAH) has recently recognized ICAR-NIVEDI, Bangalore for PPR and
Leptospirosis as WOAH Reference Laboratories in India. Previously, ICAR-NIHSAD,
Bhopal (for Avian Influenza) and KVFSU, Bangalore (for Rabies) have already
been given this recognition highlighting DAHD’s continued commitment to
enhancing animal health.
Empowered Committee on Animal Health
Established in 2021, ECAH serves as DAHD's think tank, providing
evidence-based insights and policy recommendations on national health programs,
emerging disease threats, One Health initiatives, and regulatory frameworks for
veterinary vaccines, drugs, and biological.