The overall objective of the BTSF Training Programme on Harmonising the implementation of EU Legal requirements - Animal Disease Emergency Preparedness and Disease control measures is to ensure that veterinary authorities and emergency responders can apply EU animal health legislation effectively, respond rapidly and consistently to Category A disease outbreaks, implement appropriate control measures, and maintain a high level of preparedness to protect animal health, public health, and the livestock sector:
- Strengthen participants understanding of the EU Animal Health Law (AHL)
- Clarify legal roles and responsibilities of competent authorities and official veterinarians in disease preparedness, emergency response, and coordination at local, national, and EU levels.
- Develop competency in contingency planning, emergency operational structures, resource management, communication, and instruction manuals.
- Train participants to conduct epidemiological investigations, collect and interpret data, perform forward and backward tracing, and use laboratory results to guide decision-making.
- Enable participants to correctly implement EU-mandated control measures, including movement restrictions, zoning, culling, disposal, cleaning and disinfection, biosecurity, surveillance, vaccination, and repopulation
- Strengthen surveillance and risk management
- Foster effective collaboration with public health and wildlife authorities when dealing with zoonotic diseases or wildlife reservoirs.
Content
The course addresses the following topics:
- EU Animal Health Law (AHL): legal framework, principles, delegated and implementing acts, and disease control requirements for Category A diseases.
- Roles and responsibilities of competent authorities, official veterinarians, and operators in preparedness, emergency response, and disease control.
- Disease surveillance for Category A diseases, including passive and active surveillance, risk-based surveillance, wildlife surveillance, and post-outbreak monitoring.
- Emergency preparedness and contingency planning: contingency plans, instruction manuals, emergency structures, resource planning, communication, and simulation exercises.
- Outbreak investigation and epidemiology
- Tracing and movement control
- Disease control measures
- Field response and farm biosecurity
- Vaccination and post-epidemic management: emergency vaccination strategies, vaccination planning, surveillance after vaccination, and ASF exit strategies.
- One Health and intersectoral collaboration: coordination with public health, wildlife, environmental authorities, and other stakeholders during disease outbreaks.
Target audience
This Training Programme has been designed for the profiles and positions described below. Please verify compliance with the selection criteria before submitting or validating applications.
- Officials currently delivering official controls and/or official activities at establishment level and in intra EU animal movements
- Officials at regional level responsible for animal disease prevention and eradication programmes
- Officials at central level responsible for the setting up of policies/ procedures in animal disease prevention.
Calendar and locations
| Session | Start Date | End Date | City | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - Focus on ASF | 16/11/2026 | 20/11/2026 | Vilnius | Lithunania |