Headed by His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, the National Biosecurity Committee held its first meeting for this year to discuss the updates of the National Biosecurity Strategy action plan.
Committee members explored the achieved goals of the strategy and addressed the outcomes and recommendations of the UAE Third Biosecurity Conference, which was held on October 23rd and 24th, 2017 under the theme ‘Biosecurity is Everyone’s Responsibility’, and convened a wide local and international participation.
His Excellency Dr Al Zeyoudi emphasized that this meeting is a key element in the National Committee’s efforts to implement the National Biosecurity Strategy, adopted by the UAE Cabinet in 2013 under the theme "Integrated Biosecurity", particularly in regard to building financial and human capacities.
“The National Biosecurity Committee has devised the strategy to enhance biosecurity by issuing and updating legislatives and laws and building capabilities for detecting biological hazards and dealing with incidents and biological threats that will adversely affect the UAE community and political, economic and tourism sectors,” said Dr Al Zeyoudi.
He added that the strategy focuses on collaboration and coordination between all relevant entities throughout the stages of addressing biological hazards, as well as the importance of attracting and qualifying national workforce and ensuring effective community engagement, to achieve UAE Vision 2021 on building integrated biosecurity that enhances the UAE’s overall safety and security.
The meeting also showcased the 2018 agenda, which includes upgrading national capacity building in biosecurity.