National Committee of Biosecurity Holds its First Meeting for 2024

The National Committee of Biosecurity, chaired by H.E Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, held its first meeting of 2024. The meeting reviewed the latest developments by the nation to promote sustainable biosecurity and roles of the Committee.

H.E Dr Al Dahak recognized the efforts of the former Minister of Climate Change and Environment, HE Mariam Almheiri, in ensuring the success of the National Biosecurity Committee. She thanked the Committee for its outstanding efforts to ensure an integrated and sustainable biosecurity and for its part in achieving the country’s ambition of becoming a regional and global biosecurity leader.

H.E Dr Al Dahak stated, "The UAE seeks to ensure sustainable biosecurity. Reducing the risk of biological factors is one of the most important pillars in achieving this goal, and in protecting the nation from the consequences and significant impacts of these hazards."

Her Excellency stressed that in the face of escalating global risks and threats, collaborative efforts are crucial to minimizing the potential consequences of biological agents.

She added: "The next stage requires us to continue enhancing efforts to build and develop capabilities to ensure greater protection from biological risks and threats. This aligns with our commitment to preserving the UAE’s environment, ensuring the sustainability of its natural resources and promoting biodiversity for future generations."

H.E Dr Al Dahak emphasized the importance of collaboration in strengthening mechanisms to monitoring responses to biological risks and threats, including a national framework for biosecurity.

She underlined the need for the UAE to adopt a One Health approach to make progress in the areas of prevention, detection, and control of diseases affecting humans and animals as well as continuing to work on forecasting programs and anticipating potential future diseases and epidemics.

The meeting discussed a range of important topics in the field of biosecurity, including the implementation of the recommendations of the third meeting of the National Committee of the Biosecurity in 2023 and the implementation of the National Biosecurity Framework 2023-2032.