India Charts Robust Future for Animal Health: ECAH Meeting Highlights Strategic Milestones and Reforms

Pashu Sandesh, 25 Juy 2025

The Empowered Committee for Animal Health (ECAH) convened today in New Delhi under the aegis of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening its animal health ecosystem. The high-level meeting was chaired by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, and co-chaired by Mrs. Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary, DAHD.

Representatives from key institutions, including the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Ayush, and others participated in the deliberations to assess progress and shape the way forward for animal health governance in the country.

Prof. Sood lauded the Department’s proactive initiatives, emphasizing the critical role of public awareness—especially among livestock farmers—in combatting major challenges such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). He advocated for broader media outreach to inform and educate rural communities on vaccination and disease prevention.

Key Reforms and Regulatory Advances

The Department outlined major regulatory reforms aimed at improving the accessibility and quality of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biologicals, and feed additives. Efforts are also being made to streamline approval processes and enhance the availability of high-quality animal health products nationwide.

Updates were shared on the simplification of veterinary regulations, digitization of vaccination records via the Bharat Pashudhan application, and initiatives such as real-time monitoring of cold chains through the Animal Vaccine Intelligence Network (AVIN).

Milestones Under National Disease Control Programmes

India has made significant strides under its National Disease Control Programmes. As of now:

• 124.10 crore doses of FMD vaccine

• 28.89 crore doses of PPR vaccine

• 4.77 crore doses of Brucellosis vaccine

• 0.88 crore doses of Classical Swine Fever (CSF) vaccine

have been administered. All vaccines under these programs are developed and manufactured indigenously, aligning with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision and supporting India’s growing role as a global supplier of veterinary vaccines.

The Department is also working toward the creation of FMD-Free Zones in nine states, bolstering India’s efforts in disease eradication and livestock export readiness.

International Recognitions and Biosecurity Initiatives

A key highlight of the meeting was the announcement of India’s first Equine Disease-Free Compartment (EDFC), endorsed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on July 3, 2025. Located at the Remount Veterinary Corps Centre & College in Meerut Cantonment, the facility meets global standards for the international movement of sport horses.

Further strengthening India’s biosecurity framework, 44 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) compartmentshave been approved, ensuring the poultry sector’s compliance with international export protocols.

In a landmark achievement, ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, has been designated a Category A Rinderpest Holding Facility by both WOAH and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This places India among an elite global group of only six such facilities, reinforcing the nation’s role in post-eradication vigilance for high-risk animal diseases.

WOAH has also recognized:

• ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar for Equine Piroplasmosis

• ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow for Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome

These designations underscore India’s growing leadership in global veterinary diagnostics and reference laboratory capabilities.

Strengthening Surveillance Networks

Under the Pandemic Fund Project, two national laboratory networks have been established:

1. Indian Network of Genomic Surveillance (INGeS) – comprising 11 laboratories

2. Indian Network on Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) and Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) – comprising 19 laboratories

In addition, efforts are underway to secure NABL accreditation for six Central and Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories and 17 state-level laboratories. A new digital platform titled “Rate My Lab” is being developed to enable transparent self-assessment and benchmarking of diagnostic services.

About ECAH

Established in 2021, the Empowered Committee for Animal Health (ECAH) serves as the apex advisory body under DAHD. It plays a pivotal role in guiding policy on animal disease control, regulatory frameworks, emerging zoonoses, and One Health strategies.

As India accelerates its journey toward enhanced livestock health, biosecurity, and global trade readiness, today’s ECAH meeting marks a significant step in aligning policy, science, and innovation for a healthier animal ecosystem and a stronger rural economy.