New Delhi: The 9th meeting of the Empowered Committee for Animal Health (ECAH) convened in New Delhi under the leadership of Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, and Mrs. Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD). The gathering saw active participation from representatives of PSA, ICMR, CDSCO, DBT, Ministry of Ayush, and other key institutions.
Prof. Sood emphasized the vital need for increased outreach and awareness among livestock farmers on critical topics like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). The department presented updates on ongoing reforms—particularly in veterinary drug regulation, access to high-quality animal healthcare products, and streamlining of existing frameworks to support livestock well-being.
Major Milestones in Animal Health Initiatives
India’s achievements in animal health management were highlighted during the meeting. Notable milestones include:
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124.10 crore doses of FMD vaccine,
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28.89 crore doses of PPR vaccine,
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4.77 crore doses of Brucellosis vaccine, and
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0.88 crore doses of CSF vaccine administered till date.
All data is being captured through the Bharat Pashudhan digital application.
In support of disease eradication, FMD-Free Zones are being established across nine states, while the Animal Vaccine Intelligence Network (AVIN) is piloting real-time cold chain monitoring.
Importantly, all vaccines used under national control programmes are indigenously produced, boosting India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat goals. Additionally, India has emerged as a vaccine exporter, aiding global animal health systems.
International Recognitions and Surveillance Infrastructure
India’s first Equine Disease-Free Compartment (EDFC), located at RVC Centre & College, Meerut Cantonment, received official endorsement from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on July 3, 2025—a significant development for international equine trade.
Further recognitions include:
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44 HPAI Compartments approved for poultry biosecurity
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ICAR-NIHSAD, Bhopal designated as a Category A Rinderpest Holding Facility by WOAH and FAO—making India one of only six countries with such status
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WOAH-recognized labs:
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ICAR-NRC on Equines, Hisar (Equine Piroplasmosis)
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ICAR-NBFGR, Lucknow (Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome)
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Building Future-Ready Diagnostic and Research Capacity
Two major laboratory networks have been initiated under the Pandemic Fund Project:
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Indian Network of Genomic Surveillance (INGeS) – 11 labs
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Indian Network on Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs & EIDs) – 19 labs
To ensure quality, efforts are being made to secure NABL accreditation for key labs. A new self-assessment platform titled “Rate My Lab” is also under development to benchmark and enhance transparency across diagnostic services.
Conclusion: A Strategic Push Towards Resilient Animal Health Systems- ECAH
The 9th ECAH meeting reaffirmed India’s commitment to building a resilient, self-reliant, and internationally compliant animal health system. With cutting-edge infrastructure, global recognitions, digital tracking tools, and collaborative planning, the roadmap set during the meeting promises holistic growth for the sector, in alignment with One Health principles and the vision of a disease-free livestock ecosystem.
Source: PIB
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