New Delhi, April 17 (NationPress) On Friday, the Indian government showcased its advancements in establishing a strong, technology-centric animal health ecosystem as part of the One Health initiative.

The government stressed the transition from merely controlling diseases to fully eradicating them, with a specific focus on Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR).

During the 10th session of the Empowered Committee for Animal Health (ECAH), Naresh Pal Gangwar, Secretary of DAHD, highlighted enhancements in vaccination distribution and verification via digital platforms like NDLM and Bharat Pashudhan, fostering greater transparency and accountability.

At this meeting, Dr. Naveena B. Maheswarappa, the Animal Husbandry Commissioner, presented an in-depth overview of the department's significant accomplishments and future directions.

The committee assessed the advancements in vaccination initiatives, regulatory improvements, laboratory enhancements, and surveillance methodologies.

Committee members were also informed about the success of disease control programs, which have seen over 133 crore vaccinations against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) administered since 2020, resulting in a marked decline in disease occurrences and outbreaks.

Moreover, the occurrences of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) have dropped from 98 in 2019 to 29 in 2025, thanks to ongoing nationwide vaccination campaigns.

“The enhancement of laboratory facilities, including Central and Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories, has been pivotal in supporting disease monitoring and diagnostics under the Pandemic Fund project,” an official statement revealed.

In terms of regulatory advancements, the Committee welcomed strategies to hasten the approval process for veterinary medications and vaccines through procedural reforms and integration with the NANDI-SUGAM portal, which has greatly diminished processing durations.

Additionally, the Department is making strides towards creating a national framework for animal feed regulation to fill current legislative voids. The Committee also stressed the importance of expanding WOAH-compliant compartmentalization in the poultry sector to reinforce biosecure production systems and boost export capabilities.

Key priorities identified by the committee included preparedness for exotic strains of FMD and African Swine Fever, mapping veterinary infrastructure on the NDLM portal to identify essential gaps, and executing a national mock drill focused on animal disease readiness.