As Australia’s delegate, Dr Beth Cookson led the first General Session of the 91st World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) held in Paris between 26-30 May 2024. This year marked a significant milestone, celebrating the Organisation’s 100-year anniversary.
At the Opening Ceremony, Minister the Hon. Murray Watt joined other world Agricultural Ministers in delivering a video address. He congratulated WOAH on their centenary and spoke of Australia’s contributions. Former Australian WOAH Delegate, Dr Mark Schipp, was awarded the Organisation’s Gold Medal in recognition of his extensive contributions to WOAH and veterinary science.
While celebrations recognised WOAH’s past achievements, Members also pondered “Is WOAH ready for the future?”. A forum helped Members conceptualise this by posing potential future scenarios and explored the prospective roles of WOAH and its Members. This inclusive and intergenerational forum featured presentations, futures-thinking exercises and panel discussions with participants including veterinary students and WOAH senior leaders.
A key factor in WOAH’s ability to position itself for the future is gaining support from WOAH Members to implement comprehensive changes to its constitution – the Basic Texts. WOAH, with funding support from Australia, undertook an independent review of their Basic Texts and the findings were discussed at the forum. WOAH Members understanding its importance, voted unanimously to undertake a program of work to revise the Basic Texts.
Another significant occurrence at this year's General Session was the election of a new Director General. Dr Emmanuelle Soubeyran of France was elected to serve in the role for the next five years. She is France’s current Chief Veterinary Officer and will succeed Dr Monique Eloit who is retiring after holding the position since 2015.
Dr Cookson was elected as Secretary General to the Bureau of the Regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Dr John Stratton was elected as Member to the Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission and Dr Ingo Ernst was elected Vice-President of the Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission. Dr Ernst has held the role of President of this commission for the past nine years and chose to nominate for Vice-President to make way for the succession of new perspectives.
The General Session provides a forum for Delegates to vote on new and revised international standards for Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Codes. Key standards adopted this year include those for responsible antimicrobial usage, animal welfare during slaughter, and disease chapters on surra and foot-and-mouth disease.
Australia has a proud history of engaging with WOAH, and supporting WOAH’s mission to ‘improve animal health globally, thereby ensuring a better future for all’. The General Session, and its 100th anniversary, was an opportunity to celebrate the crucial work of this intergovernmental organisation, and Australia’s ongoing contributions.
