Harmonization of Quarantine operations procedures in Somalia export quarantines

 

Harmonization of Quarantine operations procedures in Somalia export quarantines

5-day training will be held at ISTVS from the 2^nd to 6^th July to train veterinary staff in Somalia on the harmonization of Quarantine operations procedures in Somalia export quarantines.

The specific objectives of the training:

• Equip veterinary staff with knowledge and skills in quarantine operations and practices to mitigate the risk of transporting live animals with Transboundary Animal Disease agents.
• Enhance communication and cooperation between staff of the various quarantine stations in the region.
• Negotiate a levy to cater for the public sector supervision

The training is a follow-up of the recommendations of the Somali livestock stake holder’s consultative forum meeting that was held in Uganda which was as follows:

• The Somaliland Veterinary administration in Somaliland, Punt land, Southwest, Galmadug, Jubaland and the Federal government of Somalia commit to implementing a long-term technical solution to the recurrent ban of Somali livestock.
• The Somali veterinary authorities to implement a strict and independent supervision, monitoring and quality control using consistent livestock certification and quarantine operation procedures and standards. Such efforts would sustainably prevent the imposition of restrictions on Somali livestock derived from the regions.
• The Somali veterinary authorities to commit to transparent modalities of implementing harmonized export certification and quarantine standard operating procedures.

The training components:

(a)Technical support and guiding principles

-The roles of the various actors operating in quarantine stations including (i) public sectors veterinarians (ii) industry veterinarians (iii) other professional staff (iv)traders and transporters (v) external inspectors

-Overseas Access Market Requirements for Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab for Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt and Iraq.

-The WTO and Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary Agreement in Trade.

– The OIE and trade export standards for trade are limiting diseases.

– Quarantine systems for the greater Horn of Africa.

1. b) Operations at the quarantine

-Biosecurity in quarantine stations

-Public sector supervision of the certification system

Reception and offloading of animals

-Laboratory diagnosis of trade limiting diseases

-Documentation for the export market

-Record keeping in quarantine stations

1. c) Environmental management at quarantine stations

-Personal hygiene and cleanliness

-Disposal of carcasses

-Disposal of medical waste and chemical and medicine containers.

Target clientele

1. Public sector animal health professional including animal health technicians and assistants, veterinarians, laboratory technicians/technologists and service providers.
2. Some cadre of private sector professionals currently engaged in quarantine stations in Somaliland, Puntland and the Federal Republic of Soma

Expected Results

(i)  Enhanced capacity to undertake to take quarantine operations about trade-related TADs.

(ii) Enhance communication and cooperation between the staff of the various quarantine stations in the region.

The Somali Veterinary authorities implement a harmonized certification system (i) movement permit (at the production level, primary, secondary and tertiary markets) and an international veterinary certificate at the export quarantine stations.

(Article shared by Dr. Fred Wesonga; photo by Ali Shaqale)