The European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EuFMD)

Global Situation

An Introduction

Countries where the disease is endemic or sporadic are sub-divided into seven regional pools following the genetic and antigenic analyses of the FMDV. At national level, the Progressive Control Pathway for FMD (PCP-FMD) tool is used in assisting countries to develop sustainable national strategic plans. At regional level, where there are shared risks of transboundary spread, the FAO and WOAH FMD working group organizes Regional Roadmaps to safeguard investment in national FMD progress, and where national management progress is shared, and progress to reach regional goals is reviewed.

The Global FMD Control Strategy

The overall objective of the Global FMD Control Strategy is to contribute to poverty alleviation and improving the livelihoods in developing countries and to protect and further the global and regional trade in animals and animal products.

Strategy at global level therefore aims not only to reduce the burden of FMD on animal production in developing countries, but also in FMD-free countries by strengthening the capacities of veterinary Services.

The Progressive Control Pathway for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (PCP-FMD)

The PCP-FMD has been developed by FAO and EuFMD and further endorsed by the WOAH. It guides endemic countries through a series of incremental steps to better manage FMD risks and enables affected countries to progressively increase the level of FMD control to the point where an application for official freedom is endorsed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).