Azerbaijan, Iran to establish working groups on veterinary control measures

The Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency (AFSA) and the Iran Veterinary Organization have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on "Cooperation in the field of combating transboundary animal diseases", the AFSA told Report.

The document was signed by Azerbaijan's Deputy Prime Minister, Shahin Mustafayev, and Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Farzaneh Sadegh.

According to the MoU, AFSA and the Iran Veterinary Organization will work together to implement measures to combat transboundary animal diseases in areas adjacent to state borders.

Additionally, they will carry out appropriate measures to ensure the biological safety of the population and environment of both countries against the background of increasing epizootic tension caused by infectious animal diseases in the region.

As part of the MoU, joint anti-epizootic measures, including control, vaccination, monitoring, and other activities will be organized in areas adjacent to Azerbaijan's state border with Iran. It also envisages expanding cooperation in implementing veterinary control measures at the border and exchanging experiences.

The memorandum also reflects issues such as the creation of working groups consisting of representatives and experts from AFSA and the Iran Veterinary Organization in the mentioned areas, conducting joint research, holding joint training and exercises on laboratory diagnostics of animal diseases, exchanging information, and organizing meetings.