The letter, drawn from the debate started with ALA by the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA) addresses issues related to biosecurity, risk analysis, active and passive epidemiological surveillance and health quarantine visitors to the farms.

The letter also deals with the consolidation of national regionalisation and compartmentalisation programmes and the creation of compensation funds.

"Emergency funds are fundamental to stimulate the producers to notify occurrences. In Brazil, most producing states already have such funds.

"On the other hand, the establishment of compartmentalisation and the regionalisation of production allow more accurate tracking of the production system, making it more effective combat possible outbreaks," said Ariel Mendes, Production Director of ABPA.

One of the main points of the document is to create a Latin American Working Group, aiming to build a continental contingency strategy for the genetic material supply guarantee. The group consists of representatives from four geographical regions of the continent: Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, the Andean Region and the Mercosur countries.

"The setting up of alternatives for the supply of genetic material for the producers is a matter of production security, in particular for countries that do not have genetic stores," said Francisco Turra.

During the last meeting of the ALA has also created a working group within the Mercosur countries, in order to establish a common strategic plan for the region. The group has a meeting scheduled for October in Montevideo (Uruguay).