More can be achieved together than by going it alone. This principle underpins the Animal Health Quads Alliance (Quads Alliance) – which brings together Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Collaboration amongst these likeminded countries works to support international animal health, and the integrity and effectiveness of the rules-based global order for international trade in animals and their products.
The annual meeting of the Quads Alliance took place in Tauranga, New Zealand in early April over four days. Delegations were led by Chief Veterinary Officers from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Australian Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Beth Cookson led Australia’s delegation, accompanied by the department’s Dr Gary He and Dr Ashley Jordan.
The broad geographic footprint and collaborative approach of the Quads Alliance provides Australia with valuable networks and intelligence, and opportunities for the countries to both learn from each other and work together to mutual benefit. This is particularly important for the alliance’s key focus in supporting global animal health outcomes and the work of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). For example, the alliance discusses WOAH’s international standards and technical resolutions and works to support strong international leadership.
Ahead of the annual WOAH General Session in late May 2024 in Paris, the Quads Alliance meeting also meant that there could be discussions and collaboration on approaches for the General Session. Other discussions on current global activities included those relating to the World Health Organization Pandemic Treaty negotiations and the zero draft of the Political Declaration that will be issued by the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance in New York in September.
Australia also shared insights and lessons learnt from its regional capacity building for rabies control and prevention in the Indo-Pacific region – where members of the Office the Chief Veterinary Officer’s Offshore Program have been busy assisting the Timor-Leste Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry with a rabies vaccination campaign.
This Quads Alliance meeting was the first for Dr Cookson since she took office in December 2023, and she used the opportunity to strengthen connections with the other alliance members and their teams. Australia will Chair the Quads Alliance in 2027.
At the recent WOAH General Session, the Quads Alliance also met in the margins of the event to continue its collaboration and support its collective influence.
With the global animal health landscape constantly evolving, working together with other countries with a common goal to manage biosecurity has never been more important. The recent meeting of the Quads Alliance was a testament to the ongoing strength and collective value of collaboration with these like-minded countries.
