Dear Delegates,
Dear Guests,
Welcome to the dedicated page of the 28th Conference of the Regional Commission for Americas. On this page you may find related information about the event.
This event is primarily intended for delegates from WOAH Members in the Americas and members of the Veterinary Services whom they designate to be part of their delegations. Strategic partners, representatives of regional organizations, and invited experts may also participate.
The Regional Conferences provide a unique forum for dialogue and exchange among WOAH Members, invited experts, regional partners, and the Organization’s staff responsible for its main programs and initiatives.
The active participation of Members is essential, as it allows them to contribute to discussions on the region’s priorities and challenges, share experiences, and influence the definition of actions that address their needs. In this way, OIE can better tailor its support and strengthen its assistance to Members in the Americas.
Dear Delegates and Guests of the 28th Conference of the Regional Commission for the Americas, please note that the Conference will be held at the Sheraton Asuncion Hotel.
MONDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2026
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Arrival of participants / Conference registration
9:00 a.m. Opening ceremony
9:45 a.m. Official photograph
10:00 a.m. High level round table: Investing in Animal Health to Secure Everyone´s Future (first part)
11:00 a.m. Break
11:30 a.m. High level round table (continued)
12:30 p.m. Approval of the Programme (Dr Rafael Rodriguez Alvarado, President of the Regional Commission)
Appointment of the Conference Committee (Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and General Rapporteur)
Appointment of session chairpersons and rapporteurs (Technical items)
12:45 a.m. Lunch break
2:00 p.m. Keynote speech (Dr Emmanuelle Soubeyran, WOAH Director General)
2:45 p.m. Regional activities and follow up of the last Conference recommendations (Dr Francisco D´Alessio, Regional Representative for the Americas)
3:15 p.m. State of animal health and reporting capacities in the Americas:
(Dr Jenny Hutchison, Head of the World Animal Health Information Department)
4:15 p.m. Break
4:45 p.m. 30 years of WOAH official status recognition
5:30 p.m. Panel: Current situation, national and regional challenges and opportunities in animal health and welfare (Dr José Carlos Martin Camperchioli, SENACSA President)
6:00 p.m. End of the day
8:00 p.m. Dinner hosted by Paraguay
TUESDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2026
9:00 a.m. Technical Item I: Use of epidemiological models to support decision-making in Veterinary Services (Dr Maria Victoria Iriarte Barbosa, DGSG-MGAP Uruguay)
9:45 a.m. Discussion
10:15 a.m. Break (Preparation of Recommendation No. 1 by designated small group)
10:45 a.m. Strengthening emergency preparedness and response in the Americas (including ASF preparedness exercise and regional experiences)
12: 30 p.m. Lunch
2:00 p.m. The WOAH PVS Process: Involvement of Members from the Americas region. Experiences and future prospects (Capacity Building Department)
3:00 p.m. WOAH Reference Centres: Regional Capacities, Perspectives and Future Needs
3:45 p.m. Activity report of the Regional Secretariat of the Global Framework for the Control of Transboundary Diseases (GF-TADs) (Dr Catya Martinez Rivas, Sub Regional Representative for Central America and the Caribbean)
4:15 p.m. Break
4: 45 p.m. Round Table on GF-TADs priority diseases, sub-regional and regional coordination (Chair: Dr Conrad Estrada, President of the GF-TADs Regional Steering Committee)
5:45 p.m. Discussion: Regional priorities for disease prevention and control (Dr Francisco D´Alessio)
6:30 p.m. End of the day
7:30 p.m. Complimentary dinner (to be confirmed)
WEDNESDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2026
09:00 a.m. Technical Item II: Economic aspects of effective and sustainable animal health surveillance systems. (Prof. Fernando Ferreira, University of Sao Paulo)
09:45 a.m. Discussion
10.15 a.m. Break (Preparation of Recommendation No. 2 by designated small group)
10:45 a.m. One Health in the Americas and Quadripartite Collaboration: Current Status and Regional Work Plan (Dr María Mesplet, One Health Regional Officer, RR Americas)
11:15 a.m. The economic impact of AMR in animal health: facts, figures and cost-effective interventions Implementation of the 2024 UN Political Declaration on AMR – Targets & Opportunities (Dr Javier Yugueros-Marcos, Head of the Veterinary Products and Drug Resistance Department)
11:45 p.m. Animal Welfare: Update on the regional strategy (Dr Lucía Escati, Regional Communications and Technical Officer, RR Americas)
12:15 p.m Aquatic Animal Health: Proposed regional strategy (Dr Marcela Lara, Regional Aquatic Animal Health Officer, RR Americas)
1: 00 p.m. Lunch
2:00 p.m. Wildlife: Priorities and regional action plan (Dr María Mesplet)
2:30 p.m. Animal movements and international trade. Progress report and regional work plan (Dr Martín Minassian, Technical Assistant, RR Americas)
3:00 p.m. WOAH Standard setting process and facilitated discussion on regional initiatives and the work plans for the development and revision of:
(Regional Members of the Specialist commissions)
4:30 p.m. Progress on the work of the WOAH Community of Practice on Standards (Dr Martín Minassian)
4:50 p.m. Break
5:30 p.m. Presentation of draft recommendations and discussion
6:30 p.m. End of the day
7:30 p.m. Dinner hosted by WOAH
THURSDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2026
Cultural visit organised by Paraguay
FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2026
09:00 a.m. Update on the activities of the WOAH Governance Review Committee (GRC) (Regional GRC Member)
10:00 a.m. From Global Strategy to Regional Action:
(Ms Nathaly Monsalve, Head Regional Coordination Department and Dr Francisco D’Alessio)
11:30 a.m. Break
12:00 p.m. Administrative session
12:30 p.m. Committee of the Americas on Veterinary Medicines (CAMEVET): Review of the Committee and future outlook (RR Americas)
1:00 p.m. Conference conclusions and adoption of Recommendations
1:30 p.m. Proposal of date and venue of the 29th Conference of the WOAH Regional Commission for the Americas
1:45 p.m. Closing ceremony
2:00 p.m. End of the Conference
