J. Vaarten - Tackling FAST-diseases through a Public-Private-Partnership

Abstract
Food-and-mouth disease And Similar Transboundary (FAST) animal diseases are a constant threat to the European livestock sector. They do not only cause large animal health and welfare problems, they are also disruptive for private partners of the livestock production value chain, as well as for public authorities and institutions involved. Successful prevention and control of FAST diseases requires the involvement and collaboration of private and public partners.

A group of 8 European organisations - representing farmers, breeders, traders, feed producers, renderers and the animal health sector - supported by EuFMD, has set up a platform against FAST diseases. The platform seeks communication and collaboration with public partners in a Public-Private-Partnership, and listed items for debate including:
reconsidering criteria for application of emergency vaccination and creating a lever for keeping vaccinated animals in the food chain;
incentivising biosecurity on farms for preventing FAST diseases;
capacity on farms, in test laboratories, on rendering plants, etc. in the face of FAST disease outbreaks;
biosecurity management in the feed chain.

This initiative is well in line with EuFMD Workplans Phase V 2019 – 2021, which aims to establish Public and Private Sector Platforms (PPSP) for FAST diseases. With the support of EuFMD, the private stakeholders wish to invite their public stakeholders’ partners and academia to a series of workshops and simulation exercises that addresses specific aspects of FAST disease prevention and control.