OIE training of Focal Points for Veterinary Products (cycle II) North Africa and Middle East

About 30 participants representing some fifteen countries of North Africa and the Middle East participated in an advanced OIE training seminar for the National Focal Points of the OIE for Veterinary Products, from 6 to 8 December 2011 in Casablanca.

A first workshop on this subject was organised by the OIE in Johannesburg (South Africa) in November 2010 for African countries and Damascus (Syria) in December 2009 for the Middle East countries. A similar workshop (Advanced Training) was held last September in Dakar for Francophone countries of Africa.

During the opening ceremony, the representative of the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Fisheries, Dr. Jaouad Barrada, Director of Veterinary Services has emphasised the importance of proper control at all levels of the chain of manufacturing, distribution and use of veterinary products in the countries of the region. Veterinary products are essential for the development of livestock production, control of animal health as well as public health. Efforts in these areas should be increased on the basis of OIE standards.

The workshop was organised with financial support from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in collaboration with the French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products, both OIE Collaborating Centres for Veterinary products.

The role of the national focal points of the OIE for veterinary products was particularly highlighted. OIE focal points are placed under the authority of the OIE Delegate in each member country and support him/her to complete and implement the duties and obligations inherent to the status of OIE member countries. In the field of veterinary products, this includes the creation of a national network of experts on veterinary products or to communicate with the existing network (expert consultations about draft legislation or draft standards proposed by the OIE in this field).

Organised by the Sub-Regional Representation of the OIE for North Africa based in Tunis in partnership with the OIE Regional Representation for the Middle East based in Beirut, this workshop has also focused on the VICH initiative (International Cooperation on Harmonisation of technical Requirements for registration of Veterinary medicinal products), the problem of residues and antimicrobial resistance and the control of drug – quality, including of vaccines.

The training also enabled the organisers:

• to provide to each focal point technical information on inspection, monitoring and control of the distribution of vaccines, as well as research and identification of counterfeit products;
• to educate focal points on the proper use of veterinary medicinal products in particular vis-à-vis residues in food (Maximum Residue Limits, MRLs) and antibiotic resistance;
• to allow each focal point to have a good understanding of international standards and recommendations on veterinary products;
• to provide each focal point with an overview of actions and projects implemented in the region on harmonisation of veterinary products. The support offered by the OIE in terms of capacity building for Veterinary Services (OIE-PVS tool or OIE twinning, for example) have also been the subject of presentations and discussions with participants.