Biosecurity of Ruminant Livestock in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe

Important information about the planned visit
For biosecurity reasons, participants will be asked to sign a declaration confirming that, during the three days before the visit, they have not visited a farm or been in contact with hoofed animals. Please take this requirement into account when planning your activities beforehand. If you think you may have difficulty meeting it, please contact the organisers in advance. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
(Protective equipment, including shoe covers and protective coats, will of course be provided for the farm visit).

Technical questionnaire and preparation
Please also complete the technical questionnaire before the workshop and come prepared to introduce yourself, share your expectations, and talk about your biosecurity field experience:

Technical Questionnaire
All delegates must complete the Technical Questionnaire, which will be available on SurveyMonkey (Dr @Francois Stefanus Lategan will send you a link). It should take about 25 minutes to complete, and delegates are kindly urged to complete it before the workshop. This questionnaire provides important information we use to moderate the workshop.

Presentation Details:
Delegates are requested to come prepared to the workshop. Delegates will be asked to introduce themselves, discuss their expectations for the workshop, and share their biosecurity field experiences.

The ruminant livestock sector is vital to the economies, food security and rural livelihoods of the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe. Cattle, sheep and goats provide meat and dairy products, support farming families and contribute to export income. However, disease risks and gaps in preparedness threaten animal health, farm viability and regional agri-food systems.

The FAO Strategic Framework 2022–2031, guided by the Four Betters—better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life—calls for resilient, inclusive and sustainable agri-food systems. It highlights transboundary animal diseases, antimicrobial resistance and ecosystem degradation as risks requiring coordinated, evidence-based action. Strong institutions, cross-border cooperation and investment in data and technology are essential; biosecurity is central to this effort.

In the region, underinvestment in veterinary services, fragmented advisory systems, informal livestock movements and uneven institutional capacity can hinder disease prevention and control. Past outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, lumpy skin disease, peste des petits ruminants, brucellosis and bluetongue have affected animal welfare, trade and food-system stability. Climate change and changing livestock movements may further increase these risks.

Effective biosecurity requires action throughout the production and supply chain. Priorities include strengthening farm-level surveillance, adapting good husbandry and feed-management practices to local conditions, improving advisory services, and embedding consistent standards across the feed supply chain through regulatory and commercial measures.

This workshop brings together regional stakeholders to examine these priorities in light of the region’s epidemiological and institutional context. Participants are encouraged to share national perspectives, assess the evidence and develop practical recommendations for strengthening biosecurity and supporting sustainable ruminant production.