Another meeting in Asia

Control Of Avian Flu Among Issues For 28th AMAF Discussions

SINGAPORE, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- Asean ministers in charge of agriculture and forestry will meet in Singapore on Thursday to discuss various issues including the progress achieved in the control of avian influenza.

The meeting would update on the progress of avian influenza control measures in Asean countries, Singapore's Ministry of National Development (MND) said in a statement.

The 28th Meeting of the Asean Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) will be preceded by a senior officials meeting from today to Wednesday.

At the 27th AMAF meeting last year in the Philippines, the 10-member grouping endorsed a Regional Framework for Control and Eradication of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), covering eight strategic areas on the prevention, control and eradication of HPAI over a period of three years (2006 to 2008) under the coordination of assigned member countries.

Malaysia is assigned to coordinate implementation of containment measures, establishment of disease-free zones and emergency preparedness plan, while information sharing goes to Singapore; vaccination policy (Indonesia); disease surveillance and diagnostic capabilities (Thailand) and public awareness (the Philippines).

According to the Asean Secretariat, as of April this year, there had been 192 cases of human infections and over 200 million poultry lost, either they died because of the avian influenza (AI) or culled across the globe.

"Of the 192 human cases, 109 died. Out of these fatalities, 66 were in two of the Asean member countries -- 24 in Indonesia and 42 in Vietnam," the secretariat said.

Other issues on the agenda for the 28th AMAF meeting are collaboration on food safety, facilitating trade of agricultural products as well as implementation of animal health and regional fishery programmes.

The Asean ministers will also meet their counterparts from China, Japan and South Korea at the 6th AMAF plus 3 Meeting on Friday.

Among others, the 6th AMAF plus 3 Meeting will discuss ways to strengthen research, promote agri-trade, and facilitate training and technical co-operation.

Malaysia will be represented by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries, Datuk Mah Siew Keong.

-- BERNAMA