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Principles of animal health policy development |
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About animal health policy
"Applied epidemiology requires understanding of the policy-making process as well as the basic principles of epidemiology" - WD Hueston, 2003 Gareth Davies Lecture
Animal diseases, particularly the zoonoses, are a major issue in animal production, trade in animals and animal products, and in public health. The economic and community health consequences of animal diseases can be considerable. They have to be investigated and addressed through appropriate policies and programs. Animal health policy is the basis on which animal disease control, and hence veterinary public health, decisions are made.
Policies are based on technical, economic, and other considerations. In a democracy they embody consultation and response to the will of the people and, accordingly, politics. They are underpinned by legislation, through which operations and regulatory elements are authorised and funded.
This site provides links to material that informs our understanding of animal health policy development. Recommended reading for those interested in principles of policy development is Colebatch HK. Policy 2nd ed. Open University Press. Buckingham, England, 2002.
General Resources
The University of Sydney Library Catalogue
Recommended subject headings on the University of Sydney Library Catalogue are listed below. Please check all related subject headings for comprehensive results.
The economics of animal disease control
This special issue of Scientific and Technical Review, Vol. 18 (2), August 1999 is "a wide-ranging review of the use of economics in decision-making related to animal disease control and improved animal health". It is published by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2003
Published by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Gives details of general provisions and recommendations applicable to specific diseases.
Biosecurity Australia: Guidelines for Import Risk Analysis (Draft September 2001)
Published by Biosecurity Australia, these guidelines explain the technical aspects of quarantine risk analysis.
Joint Expert Technical Advisory Committee on Antibiotic Resistance (JETACAR)
Collection of reports and other resources on antibiotic resistance published on the Australian Government Department of health and Ageing website.
Expert Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (EAGAR)
Resources on antimicrobial resistance prepared by the Expert Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (EAGAR) and published on the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) website.
Foreign Animal Diseases The Gray Book
Electronic book published by the United States Animal Health Association. Features an alphabetical listing of foreign animal diseases with details of etiology, transmission, clinical signs, diagnosis, and control and eradication for each disease.
Exercise Minotaur: National Foot and Mouth Disease Simulation
This website, created by Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Australia (AFFA), provides details of the Exercise Minotaur, a national simulation, held from 8-13 September 2002, aimed at testing Australian governments' (state and federal) preparedness, response and recovery in the face of a major outbreak of FMD.
The WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement)
Full text of a WTO agreement on how governments can apply food safety and animal and plant health measures.
Structure and role of Australia's veterinary service
Animal Health in Australia Report
Published by Animal Health Australia, this report gives an overview of animal health in Australia for the past year. Includes the current report and an archive of previous reports.
Meat Safe
Meat Safe is an initiative of Safe Food Queensland and the Australian Meat Processor Corporation. Its website contains resources on meat inspection, quality assurance, legislation, and sampling as well links to animal health publications.
OzFoodNet
OzFoodNet is an Australian Government initiative. Its mission is to "apply concentrated effort at a national level to investigate and understand foodborne disease; to describe more effectively its epidemiology and to provide better evidence of how to minimise foodborne illness in Australia". Its website publishes all of its reports, publications and presentations and gives details of its projects and activities.
Graphic Organisers: Concept Maps
The Graphic Organizer website is maintained by US educator Greg Freeman. This page demonstrates the use of the concept map as a tool for exploring knowledge and gathering and sharing information.
Law making and policy development in public health and animal health
Animal Legal & Historical Web Center
Edited by Professor David Favre of Michigan State University - DCL College of Law. The primary focus is on US legal material but it also includes foreign national law and international materials. The site is still under development.
AustLII Databases
The Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLII) provides free access to Australian legal materials. It contains consolidated copies of all Commonwealth and State Acts and also covers Commonwealth and State case law. The database can be searched by keywords, phrases, document and Act title, and boolean search.
AQIS - Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy
The Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy aims to "protect Australia from exotic pests, weeds and diseases that could enter Australia from countries to its north". The AQIS website provides details of the strategy as well as fact sheets, news, reports, and maps.
Current policy issues in veterinary public health and animal health
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia
The AFFA website hosts many webpages relevant to animal health policy development. Some of these are:
Review of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Policy
Text of an Animal Biosecurity Policy Memorandum prepared by Biosecurity Australia in 2002.
AUSVETPLAN
The Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan deals with planning effective responses to emergency disease outbreaks. The Animal Health Australia website publishes AUSVETPLAN documents covering disease strategies, operational procedures and enterprise and management manuals.
Quality assurance arrangements - imported food
A collection of documents published by AFFA setting out standard requirements for a Quality Assurance arrangement between a company producing food products for import into Australia and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS).
Review of Australia's Quarantine Function
A review by the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit of the efficiency and effectiveness of Australia's quarantine function. Submissions, transcripts of public hearings, and media releases are published on the website.
Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)
The APVMA operates the national system which evaluates, registers and regulates agricultural and veterinary chemicals. Before an agricultural or veterinary chemical product can enter the Australian market, it must go through the APVMA's assessment process. The website provides details of procedures involved in chemical registration. Publications include the Australian Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Management System (the Cox Report) 2003.
An Appropriate Level of Protection? The Importation of Salmon Products
This report of the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee handed down in June 2000 is "a case study of the administration of Australian quarantine and the impact of international trade arrangements".
Importation of Salmonid Product - Advice on Quarantine Requirements
Animal Quarantine Policy Memorandum prepared by Biosecurity Australia in 2000.
Johne's disease
Series of resources published by the New South Wales Department of Agriculture provide information on Johne's disease including: zoning, testing, treatment and management options, and government policy.
AHA: Johne's Disease
This website published by Animal Health Australia provides details of the National Johne's Disease Control Program, Australian Johne's Disease Market Assurance Programs, and other Johne's Disease information.
Accreditation Program for Australian Veterinarians (APAV)
"APAV is a national program designed to integrate private veterinary practitioners into the national animal health system to support the international standing of Australia's animal health service capability". Animal Health Australia manages the program and its website provides full details.
Action plan for the livestock export industry
The AFFA website publishes the full text of the action plan for the livestock export industry published in October 2002 as well as updates.
New South Wales Food Authority
The NSW Food Authority is a State Government agency providing New South Wales with food regulation system. Its website publishes factsheets and other information on food safety issues.
Resolving conflict among stakeholders
The AQIS Import Risk Analysis Process Handbook
Published by AQIS, the Handbook sets out "the process AQIS will follow in developing and reviewing quarantine policies for importing plants, animals and their products into Australia."
Policy Revision: Cervine (deer) embryos and semen from Poland
Animal Biosecurity Policy Memorandum published by Biosecurity Australia
Current Import Risk Analysis: edible eggs and egg products
Animal Biosecurity Policy Memorandum published by Biosecurity Australia
Rural Lands Protection Boards
Rural Lands Protection Boards are statutory bodies involved in the management of animal health, pest animal and insect control, travelling stock reserves, stock movement, stock identification, and natural disaster relief. Their website gives details of their structure, role, and activities.
Monitoring and enforcement of veterinary public health policy
Australian Johne’s Disease Market Assurance Programs (MAPs)
"The Australian Johne’s Disease Market Assurance Programs (MAPs) are a key strategy in the control of Johne’s disease in Australia. MAPs are voluntary programs for producers, which enable them to identify and promote their negative Johne’s disease status to their clients." The Animal Health Australia website gives full details of the Programs.
Evaluation and improvement strategies for animal health policy
Review of Australia's Quarantine Function (Report)
The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit tabled this report on 5 March 2003 in the House of Representatives and the Senate. The complete report, including recommendations, is published here.
Review of Australia's rural veterinary services (Report)
Report authored by Peter T. Frawley and published by AFFA in January 2003. The review was commissioned to examine the role, availability and capability of rural veterinarians to meet Australia's future animal health needs.
National Animal Health Performance Standards
"National performance standards have been developed to establish benchmarks against which animal health services can be measured in the context of continuous improvement". Animal Health Australia publishes details of the Standards.
Australian Quarantine - a shared responsibility (the Nairn Report)
"Australian Quarantine - a shared responsibility, also referred to as the Nairn Report, was published by the Department of Primary Industries and Energy in 1996. This comprehensive review of quarantine issues was carried out by the Australian Quarantine Review Secretariat, chaired by Professor Malcolm Nairn". The full report is presented here on the AFFA website.
Organisations and associations
World Trade Organization
Animal Health Australia
World Organisation for Animal Health
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
Australian Animal Health Laboratory
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