The 80th Executive Committee meeting of the FAO Animal Production and Health Commission for Asia and the Pacific (APHCA) was held today in the Thai capital Bangkok.

Due to the COVID-19 situation the meeting was held virtually with the participation of the Executive Committee members from Australia (chair), India, Iran, Malaysia and Philippines.

The establishment of the Animal Production and Health Commission for Asia and the Pacific within the framework of the FAO was initiated by Asian nations at the 5^th FAO Regional Conference on Animal Production in 1974 and currently is composed of 18 member countries from Asia and the Pacific. It supports sustainable improvement in rural livestock agriculture and resource use through information sharing, disease control, enhanced organizational efficiency, the diversification of farm production, value-chain development and other initiatives.

APHCA works on the principle of collective self-reliance and mutual assistance among developing countries. The objectives of the committee were to discuss the APHCA financial report, activities and to develop and agree on APHCA’s work plan and budget for 2020/2021.

The committee meeting was opened with a video message from the head of the FAO regional office.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the region causing tremendous economic shock that will remain for some time to come. However, gradually we are getting used to the new normal,” said Jong-Jin Kim, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific. “And so within that new normal, the Commission has an important role to play in assessing the current requirements of the livestock sector, and advising on suitable measures for dynamic developments of the regional livestock sector.”

The meeting was chaired by the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Mark Schipp and the APHCA secretary and budget holder provided presentations on the financial situation as well as activities undertaken and planned.

Additional presentations were made by Dairy Asia’s Dr. Tsetsgee Sero from Mongolia while Dr. Corissa Miller provided information on the FAO Virtual Learning Centre for Asia.

The Executive Committee members provided feedback on the activities undertaken and recommended to further expand actively the membership of APHCA as well as ensure the development of the APHCA 5 year strategic plan as well as the regular updating of the new APHCA website.

It was agreed to keep the current composition of the ExCom membership for another year and to combine the ExCom and APHCA Business meetings for 2021 back-to-back with the with the 2nd Australian Veterinary Antimicrobial Stewardship Conference (AVAMS21), to be held 21-23rd November 2021

At the opening, a one-minute silence was held in memory of Dr KD. Ariyapala, former Director General of the Department of Animal Protection and Health of Sri Lanka and former APHCA delegate and Executive Committee member.