Regional organisations: the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR)

摘要

This paper will consider the factors determining the development of joint and/or coordinated regional action by countries in the field of animal health.A number of factors contribute to the drive for countries to develop joint and/or coordinated regional activities in the field of animal health. Several factors determine the success of subregional disease control or eradication programmes. Foot and mouth disease is a case in point:- economic globalisation, which has resulted in a trend among states to form regional economic and trading blocs and investment blocs- social and economic inequality, with respect to other economic blocs with highly demanding markets- the trend for highly demanding markets or economic blocs purchasing animal products to establish 'regionalisation' as a world standard for ensuring food quality and safety, with Latin America considered as a unit in this respect- the establishment of common terms of trade among countries under better conditions, in the face of highly demanding consumer markets for livestock products- the guidelines of international agencies (the World Organisation for Animal Health [OIE], World Trade Organization [WTO] and Codex Alimentarius Commission) and the economic blocs of developed countries, which impose constant obligations relating to trade in animal products- the weaknesses and shortcomings of the Veterinary Services of some countries in the region, which, owing to their lack of human resources, infrastructure and, above all, their funding shortages, create problems both in the countries themselves and in the region as a whole, mainly arising from these countries' lack of credibility, and prevent certain regional objectives and goals from being met.There is therefore a crucial need, deserving of special mention, to establish a common sanitary barrier for the protection of border areas and areas at risk of the introduction of disease, primarily zoonoses and economically important diseases. This calls for the establishment of organisations comprising the competent veterinary authorities of countries in theregion, which, with strong institutions and an appropriate legal and regulatory framework, will be able to tackle the region's animal health issues jointly.A country's veterinary legislation is the basic (and often founding) instrument of a Veterinary Service and is a key factor in determining the performance of the competent veterinary authority, especially its governance.Animal health rules should distribute and define the powers and responsibilities of the Competent Authorities in order to prevent overlaps.