In response to the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in 2004, a regional laboratory network was established with support from FAO ECTAD and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). This network brought together Member Nations and partners to exchange data and experience on HPAI surveillance and diagnosis, with a long-term goal of enhancing disease control capacities in the region.
As concerns grew regarding emerging and re-emerging animal and zoonotic diseases, the network expanded its focus and evolved into the ASEAN Laboratory Directors Forum (ALDF) in 2010, with technical assistance from FAO. Since its establishment, ALDF, under the supervision of the ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Livestock (ASWGL) and with support from FAO’s ASEAN Regional Support Unit (ASEAN RSU) team, has served as the coordinating platform for promoting laboratory quality services, collaboration and networking among national veterinary diagnostic laboratories in Southeast Asia countries.
Over the years, upon requests from the ASEAN Member States, FAO has continued its efforts to strengthen laboratory diagnosis capacities in the Southeast Asia region. The support includes:
- Developing the regional framework for animal health laboratory capacity building and networking in Asia, endorsed at the 35th ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) meeting.
- Providing training on the FAO Laboratory Mapping Tool (LMT) to empower 20 ASEAN animal health laboratories and conducting annual LMT assessments at these laboratories from 2015 to 2020, ensuring optimization of diagnostic capabilities.
- Extending technical assistance to ASEAN Reference Laboratories, including bioinformatics in Indonesia, biorisk management and quality assurance in Singapore, foot-and-mouth-disease and brucellosis in Thailand, avian influenza in Malaysia, rabies and swine diseases in Viet Nam.
Additionally, with funding from the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), FAO’s Strengthening Mechanism in Animal-health for a Resilient ASEAN (SMART-ASEAN) project has assisted in 2021 to 2024, encompassing:
- Technical and financial assistance was provided for the bioinformatics workshop hosted by Indonesia’s Disease Investigation Center Wates in 2022.
- The development of monitoring and evaluation tools to review the effectiveness of the laboratory framework and generate baseline reports on its implementation.
- Transition plans of ALDF to the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Animal Health and Zoonoses (ACCAHZ), ensuring continues progress in regional collaboration and response efforts.