A field visit to Frigerio Conserva Allana Pvt. Ltd. in India

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) believes in and encourages public and private stakeholders’ participation in its activities. This includes standard setting and implementation, best practice dissemination and guidelines development, training, emergency preparedness, response guidance and improving Veterinary Services. For over 15 years, WOAH has supported its Members in the development of their Veterinary Services through the Performance of Veterinary Services, the PVS Pathway. As a result, the Organisation has confirmed that the private sector is crucial to the delivery of essential services in the veterinary domain in many countries. The private sector supports Veterinary Services in fulfilling their mandate for the public good, thus ensuring animal health and welfare.

During the 33rd Conference of the Regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific, held in New Delhi, India, from November 13 to 16, 2023, under the patronage of the Honourable Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Cabinet Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, WOAH organised a side event on the Partnerships to Strengthen National Veterinary Services. It aimed to shed light on the impact of collaboration, particularly Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), in areas like veterinary education and networks of veterinary statutory bodies. The event focused on the multifaceted impact of collaboration between veterinary education, statutory bodies, and the private sector.

Notable guests at the event were representatives from the private sector at the national level. Among them was Mr Afzal Aziz, President of International Business Development at Allanason Pvt. Ltd. Mr Aziz expressed his company’s keen interest in WOAH’s PPP initiative and emphasised the invaluable guidance provided by WOAH’s Terrestrial Animal Health Code, which provides international standards for improving animal health and welfare, including safe international trade in animals and their products. His commendation of WOAH’s guidelines for ensuring optimal animal welfare during transport showcased the tangible benefits of this collaborative framework. He emphasised that his organisation is the biggest Indian meat exporter and has received the gold and platinum award from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the topmost authority promoting the export of agricultural and processed food products for the Government of India. This recognition is a direct result of the company’s application of international standards for animal health and welfare in their processes.

On 18 November 2023, in the margin of her official visit to India to attend the 33rd Conference, Dr Monique Eloit, WOAH Director General, had the opportunity to visit Frigerio Conserva Allana Pvt. Ltd., located in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. Accompanied by Mr Afzal Aziz, Dr Eloit and her team were given a guided tour of the establishment, witnessing first-hand the operations of the slaughterhouse and cutting plant. The meticulous adherence to biosecurity measures resonated with the core principles of One Health, mitigating pathogen transmission risks and strengthening both human and animal health while fortifying sustainable livestock production.

Dr Eloit also had the opportunity to view animal receiving areas and lairages and to discuss with the veterinary team, among others, about the resting conditions of animals before slaughter, confirming the commitment of the group to animal welfare. Respecting animal welfare does not only improve the conditions under which animals are transported and slaughtered to meet their physiological and behavioural needs. In fact, animal welfare is also a key element of sustainable livestock development thanks to more animal-friendly practices responding to consumer demands for transparency in food production, more specifically in how animals are raised, transported and slaughtered.

The prevention of animal diseases and curbing their transmission to humans, as well as limiting the drivers of their emergence, are linchpins to ensuring global health. This necessitates steadfast dedication and collaboration from all stakeholders, including the private sector. WOAH is encouraged to witness examples of good practices from stakeholders like Frigerio Conserva Allana Pvt. Ltd., contributing to the fight against animal diseases and ensuring good animal welfare practices.

Further discussions will continue with India to find ideal ways to develop impactful and sustainable PPPs. Ultimately, WOAH aims to strengthen the quality of veterinary services for animal health and welfare in the country.

Resources: Public-Private Partnerships in the veterinary domain (woah.org)

Contact: WOAH Regional Activities Department (regactivities.dept@woah.org), WOAH PPP Team (Capacity Building Department) (ppp@woah.org)

Photos ©Allanason Pvt. Ltd., India