@fao_EGY participants taking the final exam

Cairo, November 15^th, 2016:

Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Disease (ECTAD) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-Egypt) in collaboration with FAO-RNE organized a regional three-days training course on infectious substance transport. 

The training was facilitated and conducted by Dr. Akiko Kamata, Animal Health Officer at FAO-HQ to laboratories staff from Egypt, including Animal Health Research Institute (AHRI), National Laboratory for Veterinary Quality Control and Poultry Production (NLQP), Central laboratory for the Evaluation of veterinary Biologics (CELVB) and National Research Center (NRC), beside to participators from Lebanon and Ethiopia, from 13-15 November 2016.

This training aimed to educate participants to become knowledgeable about the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) produced by The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which serves as a "field manual" for air transport of all dangerous goods (including explosives, radioactive materials, etc.) in a user friendly, easy to interpret format, as well as on the WHO ‘Guidance on regulations for the Transport of Infectious Substances 2015–2016’ and needed training material for shippers of Infectious Substances (Class 6.2 of Dangerous Goods only, and for official personnel only), therefore availing them with the required information to safely ship infectious substances.

The course is divided into modules addressing the classification, documentation, marking, labelling, packaging of infectious substances, and the preparation of shipments requiring the use of dry ice.

Upon completion the course, the participants will become capable to

1. apply the technical skills of shipping infectious substances by air, using the current Infectious Substances Shipping Guidelines as indicated in the most recent IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations Manual;
2. apply the step-by step workbook in conjunction with the current Infectious Substances Shipping Guidelines publication;
3. promote safe and efficient handling practices in the workplace and;
4. facilitate shipments in compliance with the applicable regulations.

A certificate of successful Completion of the ‘Training on Transport of Infectious Substance by Air’ had been awarded to participants who obtained a grade of 80% or higher on the final exam. The certified person can sign on a Dangerous Goods Declaration when required for sending a cultured pathogen e.g. virus or bacteria.

 It is to be noted that most of the airlines and hub-airports are IATA members/associates, accordingly full compliance to the DGR is required when shipping Infectious Substances by Air.