Around 60 representatives from official Veterinary Services and the private sector participated in a training organised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), aimed at strengthening the implementation of international standards to ensure safe trade in animals and animal products. The event took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 17 to 19 November 2025.
Veterinary and Aquatic Animal Health Services play an irreplaceable role in protecting animal health and welfare in the context of international trade. Through epidemiological surveillance, disease prevention and control, they contribute decisively to reducing the risk of cross-border spread of animal diseases.
The implementation of WOAH Standards provides the basis for preventing the spread of diseases, while facilitating trade in live animals and animal products, both terrestrial and aquatic.
From the perspective of Members, compliance with international standards offers key strategic benefits: it reduces the risk of disease introduction and spread – including those with zoonotic potential – and strengthens sanitary and trade confidence between countries, an essential element for safe international trade.
The workshop organised by WOAH Regional Representation for the Americas, with financial support from the European Union, focused on developing scenario simulation exercises for negotiating sanitary measures and maintaining trade in the event of a health emergency.
Decision-making and reaching agreements on animal health measures require up-to-date, reliable and science-based information. In this regard, transparency is an essential pillar for ensuring safe trade.
WOAH provides its Members with various tools that facilitate evidence-based decision- making, allowing them to define health measures that are appropriate and proportionate to the risk. Among these, the new Codes and Manuals consultation tool stands out, offering simplified access to international standards and health requirements by product.
Likewise, knowing the health status of trading partners is essential for the proper application of sanitary measures. To this end, Members have access to the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS), the mechanism for official recognition of animal health status, self-declaration of health status, and publication of free zones and compartments, tools that strengthen international credibility and open up new market opportunities.
In addition, Members can access public information on PVS assessments through the new PVS Information System (PVS IS), further enhancing transparency and international confidence. The PVS pathway and its missions provide a useful perspective that can reveal gaps, inefficiencies, and opportunities for innovation in Veterinary and Aquatic Animal Health Services.
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