India reviewed major steps in strengthening its animal health system at the 10th meeting of the Empowered Committee for Animal Health in New Delhi. The meeting focused on vaccination, surveillance, laboratory capacity, regulatory reform and preparedness against major livestock diseases. It also underlined the shift from disease control towards eradication, with special attention to Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR).
Key Meeting and Participation
The meeting was held under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD). It was chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and co-chaired by the Secretary, DAHD. Senior officials from the Department of Health Research, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Veterinary Council of India and other experts participated.
Vaccination and Disease Control Progress
The Committee reviewed the progress of national disease control programmes.
- More than 133 crore FMD vaccinations have been administered since 2020.
- FMD prevalence and outbreaks have declined .
- PPR outbreaks have fallen from 98 in 2019 to 29 in 2025.
- The decline is linked to sustained nationwide vaccination efforts.
Digital Systems and Regulatory Reforms
The meeting brought into light the use of digital platforms such as NDLM and Bharat Pashudhan for vaccination delivery and verification. These systems are improving transparency and accountability in livestock health management. The Committee also noted faster approvals for veterinary drugs and vaccines through process reforms and integration with the NANDI-SUGAM portal. This has reduced processing timelines and improved regulatory efficiency.
Future Priorities and Preparedness
The Committee stressed several priorities for the next phase.
- Preparedness for exotic FMD strains and African Swine Fever.
- Mapping of veterinary infrastructure on the NDLM portal.
- Conduct of a national mock drill on animal disease preparedness.
- Expansion of WOAH-compliant compartmentalisation in poultry.
- Strengthening public-private partnerships in vaccines and diagnostics.
- Integration of human, animal and environmental health data under One Health.