The nature of Australia's constitutional arrangements for animal health; the importance of exports to Australia's livestock industries; the increasing requirements of customers and competitors regarding food safety; the need for proof of freedom from disease, and the continuing change in the structures for the management and delivery of animal health services in Australia, together dictated the need for a coordinated, national approach to biosecurity and animal health that encompassed the broad range of parties with a stake in the animal health status of Australia's livestock.

By virtue of its broad membership and constitutional objects, Animal Health Australia subsequently developed a strategic framework that determined the necessary national approach.

The National Animal Health Strategic Framework

The National Animal Health Strategic Framework proposes a definition for Australia's national animal health system and a strategic plan for the system for the period 2005 to 2010 and beyond. The Framework was developed in consultation with interested government and industry parties and this process has been coordinated by Animal Health Australia.

The principle sources of risk that have driven the development of this Framework are:

1. Trade and Economic

• the economic importance of Austraila's livestock industries

• the heavy dependence of Australia's livestock industries on export markets

• the growing expectations on the part of the community, consumers (both domestic and international), competitors and regulatory authorities with respect to assurances relating to food safety, disease freedom and animal welfare

2. Animal Disease

• Australia's current highly favourable animal health status

• the increasing occurrence and spread of emerging and exotic animal diseases

3. Organisation and Management

• the changing nature of government involvement in animal health in Australia

• the demonstrated record of commitment, latent capability and obvious interest on the part of livestock producers and their representative organisations in participating in animal health programs

4. Political

• the dispersed accountability for animal health management under Australia's constitution

• the focus of international consumers, competitors and regulators on performance at a national level

5. Technology

• the animal health management practices applied in Australia's low intensity livestock production systems which are unconventional when compared to those of international trading partners

• the opportunities available from the innovative application of new and emerging technologies to animal health management in Australia.

Key Themes

In addressing these threats and opportunities the Framework has an emphasis on the following:

• a nationally consistent approach to animal health management in Australia

• objective assessment of performance by evaluating outcomes rather than inputs

• full engagement of livestock producers and their value and service chains in the national animal health system

• application of risk-assessment processes to the allocation and management of available animal health resources.

Development of this Framework and its component National Animal Health Strategy has been undertaken with an awareness of the initiative to develop a National Biosecurity Strategy. It is believed and intended that the Naitonal Animal Health Strategy is highly consistent with this broader reaching initiative.

Parameters for a National Animal Health Strategy

The National Animal Health Strategy is primarily concerned with the animal health status of Australia's major commercial, terrestrial livestock species.

It is recognised that the animal health status of Australia's native and feral wildlife is of significance for reasons of conservation, biodiversity and environmental management. The strategy, however, deals only with the animal health status of wildlife species where the interaction of these species with commercial livestock could impact upon human health, trade and market access and/or the productivity and sustainability of commercial livestock industries.

Key Indicators of the National Animal Health Status

Disease incidence, prevalence, intensity and severity - the number and nature of the animal diseases that occur in a country are clearly a key indicator of Animal Health Status (OIE List A and B diseases are more important than "lesser" diseases). The extent and frequency of the occurrence of animal diseases as well as their intensity and the losses they cause also affect the national animal health status. Zoonotic diseases are of particular significance in this regard.

Food safety and quality of livestock products - human health and trade and market access problems due to animal health management practices are also key indicators of the national animal health status. Such problems might result from poor hygiene in the livestock production chain or the use of materials with residues that have adverse effects on human health and or market access.

Animal health regulation and management - the quality of animal health regulatory systems, including quarantine arrangements, their effectiveness in achieving adherence and reducing problems, and the quality of the management of animal health by livestock producers and others in the production chain are important indicators of the national animal health status.

Animal health services - the availability, accessibility, coverage and quality of a nation's private and public animal health services are fundamental aspects of the national animal health status.

EAD response capability - the ability to rapidly detect and effectively respond to incursions of animal diseases are important indicators of the national animal health status.

Livestock nutrition and welfare - animal health involves much more than the absence of animal diseases. Issues such as the selection of well-adapted species and breeds of livestock for the particular environment, the availability of sufficient and appropriate fodder and ensuring the appropriate welfare of livestock, also indicate the national animal health status.

Page Updated: 26 August 2008