These activities are aimed to seek ways of improving biosecurity management and reducing the risk of animal disease infection and transmission at live poultry markets.

Since Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was detected in China, the Chinese government has rolled out a number of efficient control measures. However, as long-term surveillance and research data suggested, live poultry markets still remained a major source of AI and other animal diseases.

Early in April 2011, MOA and FAO launcheda pilot program of "public-private partnership (PPP)" management model at Jiangcun live poultry wholesale market.

The program focuses on developing schemes for biosecurity facility upgrading and construction, promoting participation of both public and private sectors, mobilizing resources of multiple stakeholders and maintaining sustainability of concerning measures, in order to substantially reduce the risk of animal disease transmission at live poultry markets.

Assistedby domestic and overseas experts, Jiangcun market built a vehicle washing and disinfection station, introduced poultry transportation facilities, high pressure washers and disinfectant apparatus, improved the animal vaccination program, and offered trainings to its management staff and poultry vendors. All these have greatly enhanced biosecurity awareness and practices.

The PPP model applied in the pilot program has created a favorable environment of mutual trust and respect, and provided a platform for the broad cooperation among the public sector, the private sector and non-governmental organizations.

The program, as the first attempt of China to adopt PPP model in veterinary field for live poultry market biosecurity, has been well received by local administrative authorities, market vendors and consumers.

At the workshop and field visit, experts assessed successful experience and analyzed existing problems during the program implementation.Good practices were also defined and would be extended nationwide.

Professor John Edward, Senior Technical Coordinator and head of FAO Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) China office attended the event.Heregarded that these activities will not only push forward China's animal disease control, but also provide good practices and experience for other countries.

"The FAO ECTAD China office will further strengthen its partnership with MOA, continue to help biosecurity scheme implementation at live poultry markets, and facilitate China's efforts in safeguarding public health and food safety,” Professor John Edward said.

Other participants included representatives from Veterinary Bureau of MOA, ECTAD China Office, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of HKSAR, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC), and China Animal Health & Epidemiology Center (CAHEC), as well as experts from provinces and municipalities with H7N9 human infection cases like Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan, and so on.