The 8th meeting of the Empowered Committee for Animal Health (ECAH) took place on October 28, 2024, at Vigyan Bhawan. This important gathering focused on advancements in India’s animal health sector and was attended by key stakeholders from various organizations.
Meeting Overview
- Presiding Officer: Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India
- Vice-Chair: Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD)
- Attendees: Representatives from the following organizations:
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
- Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)
- Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
- Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
Regulatory Initiatives
The DAHD provided insights into its regulatory initiatives aimed at streamlining:
- Animal drugs
- Vaccines
- Biologicals
- Feed additives
Vaccination Programs
Significant progress was reported in vaccination programs under the centrally funded Livestock Health & Disease Control Program (LH&DCP), including:
- Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)
- Brucellosis
- Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR)
- Classical Swine Fever (CSF)
These domestically developed vaccines highlight India’s self-sufficiency in animal health.
National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM)
An update on the National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM) revealed:
- The system processes over 16 transactions every second.
- The mission aims to digitally track all livestock health metrics, improving transparency and efficiency in the animal husbandry sector.
One Health Mission
A significant focus was placed on the One Health Mission, which includes:
- A nationwide mock drill for animal disease response to enhance preparedness.
- Prof. Sood commended the G-20 Pandemic Fund Project, a USD 25 million initiative aimed at:
- Strengthening laboratory capacities
- Improving disease surveillance
- Enhancing human resource training
Standard Veterinary Treatment Guidelines (SVTG)
The committee introduced:
- Standard Veterinary Treatment Guidelines (SVTG)
- A Crisis Management Plan (CMP) for animal diseases to standardize health response protocols.
Poultry Disease Action Plan
The ECAH reviewed the newly released Poultry Disease Action Plan, which focuses on:
- Biosecurity
- Vaccination protocols
- Enhanced surveillance to prevent outbreaks, particularly High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
Revised compensation rates for poultry culling were communicated to all states to mitigate economic impacts.
International Recognition
Indian laboratories received international recognition:
- ICAR-NIVEDI in Bangalore was named a reference lab for PPR and Leptospirosis by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
- This follows earlier recognitions of ICAR-NIHSAD in Bhopal and KVFSU in Bangalore.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
- Who presided over the 8th meeting of the Empowered Committee for Animal Health (ECAH)?
- A) Alka Upadhyaya
- B) Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood
- C) A representative from ICAR
- D) Secretary of the CDSCO
Answer: B) Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood
- What is the aim of the National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM)?
- A) To increase livestock populations
- B) To digitally track livestock health metrics
- C) To improve animal breeding techniques
- D) To enhance veterinary education
Answer: B) To digitally track livestock health metrics
- Which disease vaccination programs were reported as significant under the Livestock Health & Disease Control Program (LH&DCP)?
- A) HPAI and Leptospirosis
- B) FMD, Brucellosis, PPR, and CSF
- C) Rabies and Anthrax
- D) Swine Flu and Bovine Tuberculosis
Answer: B) FMD, Brucellosis, PPR, and CSF
- What is the budget of the G-20 Pandemic Fund Project?
- A) USD 10 million
- B) USD 15 million
- C) USD 25 million
- D) USD 30 million
Answer: C) USD 25 million
- Which laboratory was recognized as a reference lab for PPR and Leptospirosis by WOAH?
- A) ICAR-NIHSAD
- B) KVFSU
- C) ICAR-NIVEDI
- D) ICAR-DBT
Answer: C) ICAR-NIVEDI