Keeping foreign animal diseases out of Jamaica: a key priority of the VSD

Jamaica has been privileged to have very few major animal health challenges. This is mostly due to the relentless work of biosecurity, led by the Veterinary Services Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in keeping these diseases out.

The introduction of certain new/ foreign animal diseases into our country is no joke! Their establishment and spread could have serious socio-economic consequences and, depending on the disease, negatively affect human health. This negative impact could include the high cost of control and eradication, and compensation, decreased food security, loss of livelihood for farmers and the inability to trade with other countries.

This underscores the vigilance that Jamaica and all other countries must maintain to continuously conduct disease surveillance and monitoring of the local livestock population.

Global travel and trade have increased and improved tremendously with newer, faster routes for air travel. This has become a key driving force in the introduction and spread of foreign animal diseases. Travellers, through the importation of animals, foods of animal origin, or animal products/ by-products may deliberately or inadvertently facilitate the introduction of disease pathogens into a country in a shorter period than before. Travellers may also act as fomites! A fomite is an inanimate object that can carry and spread disease pathogens. The movement and trade of live animals and animal products across borders also increases the risk of the entry and spread of diseases.

With this awareness in mind, Veterinary Authorities around the world, whilst keen to facilitate unimpeded trade, must ensure that effective measures are in place for the prevention and control of transmissible animal diseases. The Veterinary Services Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is the Competent Authority in Jamaica with the responsibility for National Animal Health and Welfare. This responsibility fuels our mandate which rests on six pillars:

• Keeping exotic diseases out of Jamaica

• Safeguarding the livestock industry

• Facilitating Trade

• Improving Public health

• Enhancing Food Safety

• Advancing Food Security

• Promoting Animal Welfare

In keeping with international guidelines, such as those from the World Organization for Animal Health, the Veterinary Services Division achieves its mandate through the implementation of animal health standards. Importers are required to meet import and export standards for trade.

Importers may be required to participate in a risk evaluation process based on the commodity to be imported. Once this process is satisfactory, importers are required to obtain a Veterinary Import Permit from the Veterinary Services Division using our online Ministry of Agriculture Trade System (MOATS).

An International Veterinary Certificate may also be necessary to accompany your shipment. The Veterinary Import Permit outlines the conditions for import while the International Veterinary Certificate attests to the sanitation/wholesomeness of the product. Individuals/companies wishing to export live animals or animal products/by products should contact the importing country for their import requirements. The Official Veterinary Officer of the VSD will issue an International Veterinary Certificate once the conditions can be met. These standards, among other measures, contribute to the safe, fair, and transparent international trade of animals and animal products. Interested in importing or exporting live animals or animal products?

The Veterinary Services Division recognizes the need for collaboration in this fight to protect our Ports and country from the entry of foreign animal diseases. The Jamaica Customs Agency has been a consistent and supportive partner in this thrust. We congratulate and celebrate with you in your Customs Awareness Week 2023 and wish you every success in achieving your objectives.

For information: please contact the Veterinary Services Division at 876-977-2489/2492 or visit our website at: www.moa.gov.jm