Contagious animal diseases: The science behind trade policies and standards

Contagious animal diseases have a negative effect on animal production and public health worldwide. The extent of economic losses is considerable, but has been quantified at global level for very few diseases (Junker et al, 2009 and Knight-Jones, Rushton, 2013). As diseases spread across geographical and political boundaries, old diseases appear in new areas and new diseases emerge. The impact of disease increasingly extends beyond the agricultural sector and includes indirect economic consequences, thus increasing the costs of outbreaks. Several underlying drivers account for the increased impact of contagious animal diseases (Harrus, Baneth, 2005 and Steinfeld et al, 2006). Diseases are spreading more widely and quickly due to increased global trade and faster transport. Trade of animals and animal products is driven by demand and increasing global purchasing power as a result of expanding world populations, increasing urbanisation and growth of the middle classes in developing economies. Urbanisation and demographic changes also create new interfaces between animal and human populations, leading to novel or altered exposure to pathogens. These changes emphasise the importance of aligning trade standards and science to ensure safe trade and prevent the spread of disease, including its impact on public health. This paper summarises some of the issues debated at a seminar arranged by the Centre for Global Animal Diseases, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden, on 17 October 2013.