An FAO Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) Project “Assistance for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals” was launched by the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) in 1998, with the participation of 21 countries from throughout the region. This programme complemented FAO’s efforts in assisting member countries to implement the relevant provisions in Article 9 – Aquaculture Development – of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF), at national and regional levels. Technical guidelines on Asia regional health management for the responsible transboundary movement of live aquatic animals were developed and presented to the participating countries at a workshop held in Beijing, China, from 27 to 30 June 2000. Recognizing the crucial importance of implementation of the technical guidelines, the participants prepared a detailed implementation strategy, the Beijing consensus and implementation strategy (BCIS), focusing on national strategies and with support through regional and international cooperation. The country representative gave unanimous endorsement of the technical guidelines, in principle, as providing valuable guidance for national and regional efforts in reducing the risks of disease caused by the transboundary movement of live aquatic animals, and unanimously approved the associated implementation strategy. This document contains the technical guidelines, Beijing consensus and implementation strategy.
