The Southern African Development Community (SADC) region is in a transitional phase whereby member states are working together towards the goal of free trade in livestock and livestock products that is unimpeded by transboundary animal diseases.

The Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security said this when officially opening a three day meeting of the Laboratory and Diagnostics Sub-Committee of the SADC Livestock Sector Technical Committee held in Maseru on Wednesday.

Mr. Mohale Sekoto said the Sub-Committee has a crucial role to play within SADC livestock sector, noting that rapid diagnosis and confirmation of animal diseases is an important element of disease control that can save countries.

He said that outbreaks of transboundary diseases pose a serious threat to international livestock trade both regionally and globally.

He said that Avian and Human Influenza, which have not been reported in the region, remain a constant reminder for member States to be vigilant.

Mr. Sekoto therefore urged the Sub-Committee and its sister Sub-Committee of Epidemiology and Veterinary Health, to strengthen working relations amongst the Veterinary Authorities of the SADC Member States in order to achieve the targeted harmonization.

Furthermore, the Principal Secretary said that the Livestock Technical Committee is expected to pass the recommendations made by the Sub-Committee to their Governments who will decide on how to implement them.

The meeting, which ends on Friday, aims to review laboratories in the SADC Region so to harmonise control and prevention of animal diseases.

Source: LENA 15/04/2008