Animal Health Certification Guidelines

Preface

The livestock sector in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development [IGAD] region has substantial potential to contribute to food security, general economic viability and integration within the Greater Horn of Africa (GHoA). However inadequate control in the sector of trans-boundary (TADs) and zoonotic animal diseases is a constraint. These diseases can lead to livestock trade bans being imposed on the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region by the
major importing countries of the Middle East. It is, therefore, imperative that the region strengthens disease prevention and control efforts to sustain and enhance livestock-based trade and its benefits. The region should therefore develop and adopt mechanisms for mitigating the risk of introduction and spread of animal diseases through live animal exports and livestock products built on enhanced sanitary standards for domestic movement and trade. Animal health certification [AHC] has an important purpose in providing documentary evidence of the actions that have been taken in meeting the requirements in sanitary standards of both internal and export livestock and livestock products market chains.