ISID Connects AMR, Food Safety, and International Trade
Dr Mohamed Sirdar, Interim Director of ISID-Africa, joined international experts contributing to the preparatory programme and represented the International Society for Infectious Diseases - Africa (ISID-Africa).
Dr Sirdar delivered a technical session on poultry meat food safety, antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial use, veterinary drug residues, antimicrobial stewardship, Codex Alimentarius standards, commodity-based trade principles and HACCP approaches across the poultry value chain. The presentation is also published as part of the workshop technical resources on the WOAH Africa website. The contribution brought an important One Health dimension to the programme by connecting animal disease control and international trade standards with AMR, food safety and public health. These interconnected issues demonstrate why safe trade requires coordinated action across Veterinary Services, producers, laboratories, food safety systems and public health institutions.
Practical Learning Turns Standards Into Action
The Nairobi workshop moved beyond technical presentations to examine how international standards can be applied to real-world trade challenges. Participants worked through practical exercises, simulations and mock trade negotiations addressing preparatory steps for international trade, development of sanitary measures and discussions between trading partners.
One simulation examined an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in an exporting country and challenged participants to consider the implications for international trade. Participants explored how disease notification, surveillance, risk assessment, zoning, compartmentalisation and other established animal health measures can support proportionate decision-making while maintaining confidence between trading partners. The exercises highlighted a fundamental principle of safe international trade: standards alone are insufficient without credible Veterinary Services, reliable surveillance, transparent information sharing and trust between partners.
African Priorities Shape the Discussion on Market Access
Regional roundtable discussions provided another important component of the programme. Participants examined challenges affecting access to poultry export markets across Eastern, Southern, Western and Northern Africa, including animal health, veterinary capacity, certification, surveillance, financing, infrastructure and market access.
The discussions identified several common priorities despite differences between regions. Stronger Veterinary Services and laboratory systems, harmonised regulatory frameworks, improved surveillance and traceability, greater use of zoning and compartmentalisation, digital veterinary certification, stronger public-private partnerships and regional collaboration emerged as important opportunities for expanding safe and sustainable poultry trade.
The programme also examined inspection and certification, followed by facilitated regional discussions specifically addressing export-market challenges associated with compartmentalisation, technology, financing, investment and certification by Veterinary Authorities.
These discussions demonstrated that expanding Africa’s participation in international livestock and poultry markets requires more than increased production. Strong disease surveillance, credible certification, regulatory alignment, effective biosecurity and sustained investment in national Veterinary Services remain fundamental to market access.
View the full results of the regional discussions here.
ISID-Africa Strengthens Partnerships Across Animal and Public Health
ISID-Africa’s engagement with WOAH demonstrates the value of connecting
infectious disease expertise with veterinary systems, food safety and international trade. AMR and emerging infectious diseases increasingly require solutions that extend beyond individual sectors and recognise the close relationships between human, animal and environmental health.
The engagement also strengthened ISID-Africa’s collaboration with veterinary authorities, international organisations and animal-health partners working to improve disease prevention, surveillance and resilient livestock systems across the continent.
ISID-Africa will continue to support opportunities that connect scientific evidence, One Health expertise, capacity strengthening and regional partnerships to improve preparedness for infectious disease threats and safeguard both animal and public health. Safe and sustainable trade ultimately depends on these same foundations: sound science, effective surveillance, strong institutions, credible Veterinary Services and trusted partnerships.
Read the full WOAH workshop report and access the technical resources: WOAH Standards: Safe International Trade - Commodity: Poultry Meat (English, Cycle III) - WOAH - Africa
