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SINGAPORE,
Nov 13 (Bernama) -- Asean ministers in charge of agriculture and
forestry will meet in Singapore on Thursday to discuss various
issues including the progress achieved in the control of avian
influenza.
The meeting would update on the progress of avian influenza
control measures in Asean countries, Singapore's Ministry of
National Development (MND) said in a statement.
The 28th Meeting of the Asean Ministers of Agriculture and
Forestry (AMAF) will be preceded by a senior officials meeting
from today to Wednesday.
At the 27th AMAF meeting last year in the Philippines, the
10-member grouping endorsed a Regional Framework for Control and
Eradication of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI),
covering eight strategic areas on the
prevention, control
and
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eradication of
HPAI over a period of three years (2006 to 2008) under the
coordination of assigned member countries.
Malaysia is
assigned to coordinate implementation of containment measures,
establishment of disease-free zones and emergency preparedness
plan, while information sharing goes to Singapore; vaccination
policy (Indonesia); disease surveillance and diagnostic
capabilities (Thailand) and public awareness (the Philippines).
According to the Asean Secretariat, as of April this year, there
had been 192 cases of human infections and over 200 million
poultry lost, either they died because of the avian influenza
(AI) or culled across the globe.
"Of the 192 human cases, 109 died. Out of these fatalities, 66
were in two of the Asean member countries -- 24 in Indonesia and
42 in Vietnam," the secretariat said. |
Other issues on
the agenda for the 28th AMAF meeting are collaboration on food
safety, facilitating trade of agricultural products as well as
implementation of animal health and regional fishery programmes.
The Asean ministers will also meet their counterparts from
China, Japan and South Korea at the 6th AMAF plus 3 Meeting on
Friday.
Among others, the 6th AMAF plus 3 Meeting will discuss ways to
strengthen research, promote agri-trade, and facilitate training
and technical co-operation.
Malaysia will be represented by Deputy Minister of Agriculture
and Agro-based Industries, Datuk Mah Siew Keong.-- BERNAMA
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