The European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EuFMD)

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
European Commision

The Global foot-and-mouth disease Control Strategy

The Global FMD Control Strategy  was adopted by WOAH and FAO in 2012 and is under the umbrella of the GF-TADs. The overall objectives of this strategy are to contribute to reducing the burden of FMD in affected countries and maintaining the position of countries with WOAH-granted FMD-free statuses. In achieving these, the Global FMD Control Strategy is expected to improve the livelihoods of those involved in livestock value chains, as well as safeguard and provide new opportunities for the safe trade in animals and animal products. 

The Global FMD Control Strategy is aligned with the GF-TADs Global Strategy  (2021-2025) contributing to the achievement of the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 

The Global FMD Control Strategy has three interlinked components:

1. Global FMD control;

2. Strengthening of Veterinary Services; 

3. Prevention and control of other major diseases of livestock. 

Countries where FMD is endemic or sporadic are sub-divided into seven regional Pools aligned to the genetic and antigenic analysis of circulating FMD virus. At this regional level there are shared risks of transboundary spread. Therefore, the GF-TADs FMD working group organizes regional meetings, called roadmaps, to coordinate FMD control. In these meetings, national progress in disease control is shared, and regional goals are identified. 

At national level, the Progressive Control Pathway for FMD  (PCP-FMD) tool is used to support countries outline sustainable national control plans. The PCP-FMD was developed by EuFMD and FAO, and further endorsed by the WOAH. It guides endemic countries through a series of incremental steps, supporting the management of FMD risks and enabling affected countries to progressively improve their FMD control. This can result in an application for official freedom which is endorsed by the WOAH. The PCP-FMD is the main tool of the first component of the Global FMD Control Strategy. To know more about the PCP-FMD and how EuFMD supports its implementation, please see the PCP web page.