The Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) has participated in UAE's 3rd Biosecurity Conference, organized by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) under the theme "Biosecurity is Everyone's Responsibility." In the presence of Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment and Chairman of the National Committee of Biosecurity, the conference witnessed a wide local and international participation.

ADFCA's participation came as part of its efforts to enhance the effectiveness of the biosecurity system in preventing diseases and pests. It also aimed at addressing the system's role in protecting the state from the biological threats from entering the state, the latest global mechanisms to implement its procedures in all facilities and ports of the UAE, as well as exchanging the international views and ideas in this regard.

In this regard, ADFCA presented three scientific papers in the conference's first day. These papers presented by Dr. Mohamed Abdullah Al Hosani, Dr. Sultan Al Kaabi, and Dr. Abdul Malik Khalafallah, from the Veterinary Laboratories Division at ADFCA. The papers highlighted the biosecurity system of ADFCA's veterinary laboratories and the camel disease network for the Gulf region. In addition, the scientific papers have tackled the role of the authority's livestock sector in raising the herds' immunity through carrying out preventive vaccinations campaigns, controlling infectious and common diseases, applying the "One Health" approach and mechanism of early warning and rapid response to epidemics, as well as controlling ecto-parasites. The papers further highlighted the authority's awareness campaigns that targeted livestock breeders and veterinarians, to raise the level of biosecurity in Abu Dhabi and the country in general.

The authority took part in panel discussions tackled several topics of local and international interest, including the role of international organisations in promoting and building physical and human capacities in the field of safety and biosecurity at civil and military levels. The topics also reviewed the global and regional developments regarding communicable diseases and pest control in the agriculture and livestock sectors, such as avian influenza and other pandemics and communicable diseases affecting livestock. In addition, the authority highlighted the importance of implementing the International Health Regulations aim to address the challenges of biosecurity system, as well as the importance of providing relief programmes and technical support to countries suffering from dangerous biological threats.

ADFCA adopts a set of measures aim at enhancing the effectiveness of the biosecurity system and reducing risks to animal and plant health. These measures include the identification of potential pests and diseases, immediate and effective response to reduce or control them, carrying out programmes dedicated for numbering and vaccinating animals to reduce the transmission and spread of diseases, as well as raising the efficiency and quality of diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic services. The measures also include the development of mechanisms for exchanging the information between countries, to reduce risks and diseases that could enter the state, the contribution to developing of safe disposal mechanisms of biological waste in farms, as well as raising awareness among farmers and livestock breeders about the risks of epidemic diseases and pests.