What is COSALFA? . The South American Commission for the fight Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (COSALFA) was established in 1972 at the Fifth Inter-American Ministerial Meeting on Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Other Zoonoses (RICAZ V). . At the time, the Pan-American Center for Foot-and-Mouth Disease/PAHO/WHO was entrusted with the function of its Ex Officio Secretariat. In February 1973 the first COSALFA Meeting was held, which was succeeded by 37 Regular and two Special Meetings. . COSALFA’s purpose is to assess the progress made by the national programs for foot-and-mouth disease control and eradication in South America, and recommend actions for these programs, thereby ensuring the regional integration of intervention actions. . COSALFA meetings are preceded by an international seminar, which each year addresses a different technical theme related to the problems involving foot-and-mouth disease and/or its context. . At COSALFA meetings observers also participate, including representatives of the official veterinary services, livestock producers’ organizations, the animal products industry, the veterinary pharmaceutical industry, diagnostic laboratories, universities, research institutions, and national and international technical cooperation agencies, among others. |