The Ministry of Agriculture is vigorously strengthening the capacity-building of veterinary laboratories.
Release time： 2011-07-15
On May 27, the 79th Annual Assembly of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) concluded in Paris, France. On May 26, the Assembly adopted a resolution recognizing five veterinary laboratories—namely, the National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory at the Lanzhou Institute of Veterinary Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences; the Equine Infectious Anemia Laboratory at the Harbin Institute of Veterinary Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences; the White Spot Syndrome Virus Laboratory and the Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus Laboratory at the Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences; and the Koi Herpesvirus Disease Laboratory at the Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau—as OIE Reference Laboratories. This marks the second batch of veterinary reference laboratories in China to receive OIE recognition, following the international accreditation of the National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory in 2008.
According to Zhang Zhongqiu, China’s representative to the OIE and Director of the Veterinary Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture, the OIE Reference Laboratories serve as the technical support institutions for the development and revision of international standards related to animal health, veterinary public health, and trade in animal products. They enjoy the highest authority and leading role in setting standards and rules for international animal disease prevention and control as well as ensuring the safety of animal products. Their primary tasks include drafting relevant international animal health standards, standardizing diagnostic methods for animal diseases, providing standardized diagnostic reagents and international reference sera, proposing recommendations for disease surveillance and control, and offering technical training to member countries. Given the significant influence of OIE Reference Laboratories in the field of international animal health, OIE members attach great importance to the accreditation process for these laboratories. From 1991 to 2010, the OIE had accredited a total of 245 veterinary reference laboratories worldwide, covering 112 different animal diseases. Among them are seven foot-and-mouth disease reference laboratories located in the United Kingdom, Russia, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Botswana, and Thailand; two equine infectious anemia reference laboratories, one in the United States and the other in Japan; and two white spot syndrome virus reference laboratories, one in the United States and the other in Taiwan Province of China. In addition, there is one reference laboratory for infectious subcutaneous and hematopoietic tissue necrosis in the United States and one reference laboratory for koi herpesvirus disease in the United Kingdom.
Zhang Zhongqiu stated that the designation of five Chinese veterinary laboratories as OIE Reference Laboratories at this conference marks that the technical capabilities of some of China’s veterinary laboratories have reached internationally advanced levels and have received broad recognition from the international community. Going forward, the Ministry of Agriculture will further coordinate with relevant departments to increase support for the construction of veterinary infrastructure, optimize the layout of the laboratory network, strengthen laboratory capacity building and talent development, and vigorously enhance both the R&D capabilities and management standards of domestic veterinary diagnostic technologies. At the same time, the ministry will promptly organize qualified veterinary laboratories to apply for OIE Reference Laboratory accreditation, continuously improving China’s ability and level to participate in the formulation of international animal health standards and rules, promoting international trade in animal products, and enhancing the international competitiveness of the livestock industry.
China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary News, Author: Xiaoming
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