PROJECT TITLE:

Support to establishing disease surveillance and control programs and alignment with chapter 12 of the acquis

OVERALL OBJECTIVE:

The overall objective of the project is to provide safe food to consumers, improve trade and achieve progress in the alignment to the EU standards in the food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary field

LOCATION:

Kosovo

SECTOR:

Food / Food Safety

DURATION:

36 months (20/9/2021 - 19/9/2024)

VALUE:

1,507,000

IMPLEMENTING AGENCY:

WEglobal Italy SRL

PARTNERS:

MONUNI, EPRD, Croatian Veterinary Institute (CVI) and Veterinary Faculty of the University of Sarajevo (VFS)

BENEFICIARIES:

Kosovo Food and Veterinary Agency (KFVA)

ACTIVITIES:

Deliverable 1: A 5-year Development Plan for KFVA’s Animal Health and Welfare Directorate Deliverable 2: Training of Trainers on sample collection Deliverable 3: Surveillance Programme for ovine and bovine brucellosis revised. Deliverable 4: Surveillance Programme for tuberculosis revised. Deliverable 5: Surveillance Programme for foot and mouth disease revised. Deliverable 6: Surveillance Programme for enzootic bovine leucosis revised. Deliverable 7: Surveillance Programme for avian influenza revised. Deliverable 8: Surveillance Programme for African and classical swine fever revised. Deliverable 9: Surveillance Programme for Q-fever revised. Deliverable 10: Surveillance Programme for American and European Foulbrood bee disease revised. Deliverable 11: Surveillance Programme for rabies revised. Deliverable 12: Identification and listing of the fish farms, in view of preparation of Deliverable 13. Deliverable 13: Surveillance Programme for fish diseases (VHS and IHN) prepared. Deliverable 14: Surveillance Programme on Zoonotic Vector Borne Diseases prepared. Deliverable 15: Surveillance Programme on Salmonella in eggs prepared. Deliverable 16: Surveillance Programme on BSE/TSE in bovine prepared Deliverable 17: Eradication programme, including cost benefit analysis, prepared for Brucellosis (ovine and bovine). Deliverable 18: Eradication programme, including cost benefit analysis, prepared for bovine tuberculosis. Deliverable 19: Eradication programme, including cost benefit analysis, prepared for enzootic bovine leucosis. Deliverable 20: Book of rules and procedures regarding decision making process related to surveillance, control and eradication of animal diseases Deliverable 21: Assessment Report on Animal Health Laboratory Deliverable 22: Assessment of Food and Veterinary Laboratory on Biosafety and Biocontainment and assisting in biosafety requirements Deliverable 23: On-the-job training on veterinary epidemiology and disease control management Deliverable 24: Specialized training courses on animal health Deliverable 25: Training on Biosafety Deliverable 26: Biocontainment risk assessment and assisting in biosafety requirements Deliverable 27: Training on Entomology for surveillance of vector borne diseases Deliverable 28: Hands on training for gross pathology and histopathology, including common histopathological and immunohistological staining techniques Deliverable 29: Introduction to cell culture and isolation (viral and bacterial) feasible on Biosafety Laboratory 2+ Deliverable 30: Hands on training on serological and molecular techniques for vector-borne diseases Deliverable 31: Training on laboratory analysis and tests for bacteria, pests and parasites and viral bee diseases Deliverable 32: Training on laboratory analysis and tests on rabies Deliverable 33: On-the-job training on entomology for surveillance of vector borne diseases. Deliverable 34: On-the-job training on brucellosis. Deliverable 35: On-the-job training on Avian influenza and Newcastle disease. Deliverable 36: On-the-job training on gross pathology and histopathology. Deliverable 37: On-the-job training on bee diseases. Deliverable 38: Training of 110 private veterinary practitioners on disease recognition/identification; disease reporting and recording; immediate containment measures including biosecurity measures. Deliverable 39: Manual on disease identification, containment and reporting for notifiable animal diseases according to the World Organization for Animal Health. Deliverable 40: Four (4) Proficiency tests on ovine and bovine Brucellosis. Deliverable 41: One (1) Proficiency test on Bluetongue disease. Deliverable 42: Two (2) Proficiency tests on enzootic bovine leucosis. Deliverable 43: Three (3) Proficiency tests on Avian Influenza. Deliverable 44: Two (2) Proficiency tests on Q-fever. Deliverable 45: One (1) Proficiency test on American and European Foulbrood bee disease. Deliverable 46: One (1) Proficiency test on rabies Deliverable 47: Simulation exercises on highly pathogenic avian influenza and Newcastle Disease Virus. Deliverable 48: Simulation exercises on Classical Swine Fever (CSF) and African Swine Fever (ASF). Deliverable 49: Simulation exercises on foot and mouth disease. Deliverable 50: Revision of AI on ovine and bovine Brucellosis. Deliverable 51: Revision of AI on bovine Tuberculosis. Deliverable 52: Revision of AI on Foot and Mouth Disease. Deliverable 53: Revision of AI on Enzootic Bovine Leucosis. Deliverable 54: Revision of AI on Avian Influenza. Deliverable 55: Revision of AI on African and Classical Swine Fever. Deliverable 56: Revision of AI on Q-fever. Deliverable 57: Revision of AI on American and European Foulbrood bee diseases. Deliverable 58: Revision of AI on Rabies. Deliverable 59: Revision of AI on Fish diseases (VHS and IHN). Deliverable 60: Drafting of AI on Zoonotic Vector Borne Diseases Deliverable 61: Revision of AI on Identification and Registration of animals. Deliverable 62: Revision of AI on Technical Conditions to be met by temporary care centers for stray animals. Deliverable 63: Detailed report on stray dog problem in Kosovo Deliverable 64: Stray Dog Control Program prepared Deliverable 65: Drafting of an Action plan for control of stray dogs Deliverable 66: Identification and registration of owned dogs with microchips Deliverable 67: Proposal and cost estimate for annual vaccination of owned dogs Deliverable 68: Vaccination against Rabies and echinococcosis diseases of an indicative number of 10,000 dogs, to be carried out with private veterinary services (private veterinarians) Deliverable 69: Development of software program and provision of the IT support necessary for identification and registration of dogs with owners Deliverable 70: Public education and information campaign with focus on Animal Health and Welfare and Farm Management Deliverable 71: Public education and information campaign with focus on Animal Welfare, and a particular emphasis on stray dog management, pet keeping, and registration of owned dogs Deliverable 72: Early warning system for detection and reporting of animal/livestock disease Deliverable 73: Gap analysis regarding the legislation covering the areas of animal health, animal welfare, and food safety Deliverable 74: Strategy and Action Plan for drafting the missing legislation and transposition of the legislation in force drafted Deliverable 75: Food Law amended and updated in line with EU acquis Deliverable 76: New Veterinary Law prepared in line with the EU acquis Deliverable 77: Administrative Instruction on health conditions for animal by-products not intended for human consumption in line with EU acquis. Deliverable 78: Administrative Instruction on animal welfare at the farm, during transport and slaughtering in line with EU acquis. Deliverable 79: Standard Operating Procedure for implementation of the administrative instruction on health conditions for animal by-products not intended for human consumption. Deliverable 80: Training laboratory staff (including kits and reagents) on various topics Deliverable 81: Implementation/Delivery of 9 Proficiency Tests, with direct involvement of the relevant staff of Kosovo Food and Veterinary Agency Deliverable 82: Assessment Report on the existing quality management system and identification of the improvements/revision needed in view of alignment to ISO 17025:2017. Deliverable 83: All documents and procedures for implementation of a quality management system in line with ISO 17025:2017. Deliverable 84: Training of Kosovo Food and Veterinary Laboratory and other relevant staff on Quality Management System.

RESULTS:

a) 5-year Development Plan for the Animal Health Section of KFVA’s Department of Animal Health and Welfare b) Surveillance and vaccination programmes revised or prepared for the diseases identified by KFVA and those for which reporting is compulsory c) Eradication programmes prepared, including cost benefit analysis, for Brucellosis (ovine and bovine), bovine tuberculosis and enzootic bovine leucosis d) Guidance to decision makers in securing proper surveillance, control and eradication of animal diseases e) Assessment of the Animal Health Laboratory’s resources available, in terms of human resources, kits, reagents and equipment f) Training of Kosovo Food and Veterinary Agency's staff g) Training of Private Veterinary Practitioners h) Manual on disease identification, control and reporting i) Support proficiency testing for the diseases identified by KFVA j) Simulation exercises for control of outbreak of selective infective diseases effectively carried out k) Revision or drafting of Administrative Instructions on animal disease control to provide legal grounds for surveillance and control of the diseases identified as relevant by KFVA l) KFVA and local authorities effectively supported in preparing and implementing a sustainable action plan for stray dog control as well as owned dogs, having in focus prevention and eradication of rabies m) Increased awareness on the importance of disease control and eradication n) Detection and reporting of animal/livestock disease in Kosovo well developed o) A "roadmap" to serve as basis for transposition, implementation and enforcement of the EU acquis under Chapter 12 – Food Safety, Veterinary, Phytosanitary prepared p) Legislation required under Chapter 12 – Food Safety, Veterinary, Phytosanitary prepared or updated q) Implementation of the administrative instruction on health conditions for animal by-products not intended for human consumption effectively supported r) Kosovo Food Safety Laboratory trained on specific topics in the area of food and feed safety s) Proficiency testing supported for the relevant areas of food and feed safety t) Support development of Kosovo Food and Veterinary Agency’s quality management system