30 years of WOAH animal health status: new recognitions announced

• Zones in Bolivia and Colombia are now officially free from classical swine fever. 

• Colombia has also obtained foot and mouth disease (FMD)-free status without vaccination for one zone.  

• Brazil has adjusted the boundaries of its existing FMD-free zones, reflecting continued progress in disease management.  

• Kazakhstan and the Republic of Türkiye have each secured FMD-free status with vaccination for designated zones.  

• Sri Lanka has also achieved a major milestone, being recognised as free from peste des petits ruminants across the country. 

Alongside these recognitions, WOAH has endorsed dog-mediated rabies control programmes in Malawi, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe – an important step in supporting their path towards disease elimination and improved public health. 

These achievements are the result of a rigorous, science-based evaluation process. WOAH Members seeking official animal health status must demonstrate compliance with WOAH international standards, including a robust veterinary system, strong surveillance, effective disease control measures and transparent reporting. The result is a system that is trusted globally by governments and trading partners alike. Once the official animal health status is obtained, Members must notify WOAH immediately of any outbreaks and reconfirm their status annually. 

The importance of animal health status extends far beyond animal health alone. Since 1998, WOAH’s framework has operated within the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement), which recognises WOAH as the international standard-setting body for animal health. This means that official animal health status is not only a technical achievement, but also a powerful tool for facilitating safe international trade. 

In practical terms, obtaining and maintaining official animal health status can open the door to new export markets, strengthen confidence among trading partners and reduce the risk of trade disruptions. It also encourages countries to invest in long-term improvements to Veterinary Services and disease prevention systems – benefits that extend across entire livestock sectors. 

Thirty years after its creation, WOAH’s official recognition system continues to demonstrate how animal health status can bridge the gap between disease control and economic opportunity. By linking efforts on the ground with access to global markets, it remains a cornerstone of international cooperation and a key driver of sustainable development in animal health. 

The latest recognitions show that progress is not only possible, but ongoing – reinforcing the value of a system that has, for three decades, helped countries turn strong animal health systems into lasting economic and social gains.