Under the One Health framework, the government emphasized on Friday the advancements India has made in establishing a strong, technology-driven animal health system.

The government stressed the necessity of shifting the focus from disease control to eradication, particularly for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR).

At the Empowered Committee for Animal Health’s (ECAH) tenth meeting, Secretary Naresh Pal Gangwar of the DAHD highlighted advancements in vaccine administration and verification via digital platforms like the NDLM and Bharat Pashudhan, which increased transparency and accountability.

Dr. Naveena B. Maheswarappa, the Animal Husbandry Commissioner, gave a thorough presentation at the meeting, outlining the Department’s major accomplishments and the course ahead.

The committee examined advancements in regulatory changes, laboratory enhancement, surveillance systems, and vaccination programs.

The members were also informed about the advancements in disease control initiatives, such as the administration of more than 133 crore vaccinations against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) since 2020, which has resulted in a noticeable decline in the incidence and outbreaks of the illness.

Due to consistent nationwide vaccination efforts, the number of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) outbreaks has decreased from 98 in 2019 to 29 in 2025.

An official release stated that “strengthening of laboratory infrastructure, including Central and Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories, to support disease surveillance and diagnostics under the Pandemic Fund project was also highlighted. ”

In terms of regulatory changes, the Committee praised initiatives aimed at speeding up approvals for veterinary medicines and vaccines by streamlining procedures and integrating with the NANDI-SUGAM portal, which led to a considerable decrease in processing times.

It also stated that the Department is attempting to create a national framework for regulating animal feed in order to close current legislative gaps. The Committee also stressed the necessity of increasing WOAH-compliant compartmentalization in the poultry industry in order to improve biosecure production methods and increase export potential.

Key priorities highlighted by the committee included mapping veterinary infrastructure on the NDLM portal to identify critical gaps, conducting a national mock drill on animal disease preparedness, and preparing for exotic FMD strains and African Swine Fever.