International Seminar at Uberaba – 27 and 28/4/2006

Inter-American Seminar on Veterinary Public Health “Barriers and challenges for the Expansion of South America as a source of quality meats for the World: Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Veterinary Public Health and Strengthening of Veterinary Services to comply with the goals of PHEFA and of other diseases in Public Health”.
This Seminar of GIEFA took place on 27-28 April 2006 at Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in partnership with the Veterinary Public Health Unit-PAHO/WHO, PANAFTOSA-PAHO/WHO, Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil-CNA, Brazilian Association of Zebu Producers – ABCZ and the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporters Industries - ABIEC. The objective of the seminar was to build up an instrument for continental association in the strengthening of animal health in South America. Chiefs of official veterinary services of South America, representatives of South American Agrobusiness, Inter-American Development Bank – IDB, IICA and other entities participated in the seminar.

Agenda
Conference
Final Report

Giefa Stand – 72nd ExpoZebu – Uberaba 28/4 – 10/5/2006

Participation of GIEFA at the 72nd ExpoZebu with the setting up of a stand together with the National Syndicate of the Industry of Products for Animal Health – SINDAN, National Council of Beef Cattle Production - CNPC, ABCZ, CNA and Livestock OB. The main objective of the stand was to diffuse to the great number of participants from many countries at the largest world exposition of zebu bovines the proposals and operative plans of GIEFA towards the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). The GIEFA stand welcomed hundreds of visitors, including the Minister of Agriculture of Brazil, the Governor of the State of Minas Gerais and cattlemen of the Brazilian agrobusiness and from abroad.

Regional Meeting – Uberaba – 28/4/06.

After the Inter-American Seminar on Veterinary Public Health, a Regional Meeting was held with representatives of the official services of the Enlarged MERCOSUL and other South American countries, GIEFA, PANAFTOSA-PAHO/WHO, BID and IICA to discuss strategies for FMD eradication and the strengthening of animal health services. At the meeting proposals were made for integrated hemispheric actions with the public and private sectors and international organizations.
Final Report

Appointment of new members of GIEFA.

All steps towards the appointment of new members of GIEFA have been taken and formal invitations have been forwarded by the General Director of the Pan American Health Organization. Mr. Carlos Trapani, ARP, private sector of Paraguay; Mr. Jorge Delgado Tello, CONEFA, private sector of Ecuador and Pedro Arriaga, SESA, official sector of Venezuela, have accepted. Mr. Jorge Prestel Kern, FEGASACRUZ, private sector of Bolivia, substitutes Mr. Osvaldo Monastério Nieme, ABCC, as representative of the private sector of the Amazon Sub-region at GIEFA.

Members of GIEFA
Representing North America:
Philip Bradshaw - USA - Private Sector
John Shaw - USA - Official Sector

Representing Central Americal:
Francklin Clavel - Panamá - Official Sector
Rony Chaves - Costa Rica - Private Sector

Representing South America – Andean Region:
Oscar Domingues - Peru - Official Sector
......................... - Colômbia - Private Sector

Representing South America – Amazon Region:
Jorge Prestel Kern - Bolívia - Private Sector
Jamil Gomes de Souza - Brasil - Official Sector

Representing South America –Southern Cone Region:
Sebastião Costa Guedes - Brasil - Private Sector
Francisco Muzio - Uruguai - Official Sector

Representing Countries with Actions Priorities:
Carlos Trapani - Paraguai - Private Sector
Pedro Arriaga - Venezuela - Official Sector
Jorge Delgado Tello - Equador - Private Sector
........................... - Bolívia - Official Sector

1- Presidency- Sebastião Costa Guedes

2- Secretariat of GIEFA - Miguel Angel Genovese - PANAFTOSA PAHO/WHO

3- Coordination Executive Group of GIEFA- David Ashford - USA - Júlio César Augusto Pompei - Brasil

Budget updating of GIEFA/PHEFA Plan 2005/2009.

Attention was given by GIEFA and PANAFTOSA-PAHO/WHO to various entities which requested a more detailed and updated budget of the Plan of Action GIEFA/PHEFA 2005/2009 and adequate instruments for application to the Plan, such as audits. Several procedures, such as revisions and meetings for budget updating are taking place.

Meeting at Tartagal, Argentina- 10/5 to 12/5/06.

Participation of GIEFA and PANAFTOSA-PAHO/WHO at the Tripartite Meeting in Tartagal, province of Salta, Argentina, with border coordinators and technical body of official services of Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay, representatives of the private sector and local authorities, regarding cooperation in activities for programming and supporting the strengthening of the operative capacity of the services in the Chaco region, which is considered a priority area within the Plans of Action of GIEFA. Lists of materials, equipment, courses and other requirements of the above border areas of the three countries and their respective budgets were prepared. Activities chronograms were also prepared and approved by the three countries.
Final Report - Tartagal

Extension of time limits 05/2006.

Press releases were issued on the extension of the time lapse for a reply from the participating entities at the GIEFA meeting with leaders of exporters and cattlemen of the Enlarged MERCOSUL. At the meeting, the issue of spontaneous financial collaboration for GIEFA was discussed.
The extension up to the end of July is due to requests of the involved sectors to evaluate changes of leaders and regional policies, besides restrictive measures in meat exports from the region .
Release of GIEFA

Meeting at Santarém, Pará, Brazil - 23 and 24/6/06.

In order to update the expenditures budget for FMD eradication at the borders of the Amazon River, involving the Brazilian states of Pará and Amazonas, GIEFA participated at a technical meeting in Santarém, Pará, Brazil, together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Supply of Brazil – MAPA, Executive State Organizations on Animal Health and representatives of the Regional Agrobusiness. The main objective was to support the planning of actions and costs of the integrated strengthening of animal health in the region. The border region of the Amazon River is considered one of the priority areas within the GIEFA/PHEFA Plan for the enlargement and strengthening of activities of the effective eradication of FMD.
Lists of costs, priorities and activities chronograms were prepared. .