Serhii Tkachuk on the results of the 92nd WOAH session: “Strengthening international partnerships: from opening new markets to joint biosecurity activities”

The 92nd General Session of the World Assembly of Delegates of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) took place in Paris during the last week of May. During the session, the Ukrainian delegation headed by the Head of the SSUFSCP Serhii Tkachuk held about 20 meetings with international partners. The focus was on the opening new opportunities for Ukrainian producers, namely new markets for food products of animal and plant origin.

“International cooperation is a daily work with those who are ready to hear, discuss and look for common solutions. Every day of the General Assembly is a tight schedule, one negotiation after another, new challenges and opportunities. But this is exactly why we are here,” said Serhii Tkachuk.

Thus, following the meetings with American colleagues, the parties agreed to cooperate with APHIS/FSIS and USDA on the access of Ukrainian products to the US market, and with representatives of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) - on the launch of Ukraine's accreditation for export to the EU of the following items: beef and cattle, hatching eggs and day-old chickens, pork and pork products. Ukraine will also receive a scientific report from the European Commission on approaches to vaccination against African swine fever, which will be used to provide information to Ukrainian agricultural businesses.

In addition, within the framework of the 92nd General Session of the WOAH, the Ukrainian delegation also took part in meetings with the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Indonesia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Moldova, Singapore, India, Turkey, Romania, Canada, the Sultanate of Oman, Lithuania and Hungary.

Another important point for Ukraine is the support of New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, which joined the European Union's statement on russia's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine.

‘We are grateful to every voice of support, to every partner who sees the full picture of the consequences of the war and does not remain silent,’ said the head of the SSUFSCP.

For reference: The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) is an intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health worldwide (until 2003 - the International Office for Epizootics (OIE)). The WOAH is recognised by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and has nearly 200 member countries from all continents. Ukraine has been a member of the WOAH since 1994 and takes an active part in all activities to ensure epizootic welfare.