FAO launches workshop to build resilience against agro-crime, agro-terrorism in Jordan

AMMAN — The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) on Sunday launched the first day of the Standard Operation Procedures and Simulation Exercise (SOPs& SIMULEX) “regional workshop in Amman. 

The workshop is tailored to veterinary services and law enforcement agents from Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon to build the capability of Veterinary Services and Law Enforcement Agencies on SOPs and their design processes within preparedness and response plans for better joint control of animal health events related to agro-criminal or agro-terrorist acts, according to a statement from FAO.

The launching was under the patronage of Khaled Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture, and was attended by partners, Jordanian and regional veterinarians and relevant stakeholders.

The SOPs& SIMULEX training, which was implemented by an FAO team and a representative from the OIE regional office, with INTERPOL supporting remotely, will raise awareness on the importance and usefulness of SOPs and the redaction process in emergency preparedness and response plans. 

It also seeks to identify the specific SOPs needed for the joint investigations and other activities implemented by Veterinary Services and Law Enforcement Agencies, read the statement.

FAO Representative in Jordan Nabil Assaf, said: “To further prepare for a joint response to suspicious events that could be related to agro-crime or agro-terrorism, the project proposes a training workshop on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and the use of simulation exercises in preparedness to alert and response to agro-criminal and agro-terrorist acts.

On behalf of the agriculture minister, General Secretary Assistant for Livestock Majdo Alamer, said that “the most effective way to prevent and tackle criminal and terrorism events is to integrate preparedness for these threats into existing animal health emergency management planning and to raise awareness amongst stakeholders.”

The activity was carried out under a project funded by Global Affairs Canada's Weapons Threat Reduction Programme, “Building resilience against agro-terrorism and agro-crime”. 

This is a joint project with activities coordinated by a consortium of three organisations: FAO, the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). 

The FAO portion of the project is being implemented by the FAO Emergency Management Centre for Animal Health (EMC-AH). Through its activities, including this workshop, the project aims to strengthen collaboration between veterinary and law enforcement authorities to build sustainable global and regional capacity in the event of an animal health emergency resulting from an act of agro-terrorism or agro-crime against animals, concluded the statement.