Disease-free zone declared for equestrian competition

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) recently published on its official website the self-declaration of an Equine Disease-Free Zone in Tonglu county of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

The EDFZ in Tonglu has been established to facilitate equestrian competitions for the 19th Asian Games, scheduled to run between Sep 10 and 25, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a circular released on Wednesday.

By establishing an EDFZ, disease risks in the zone can be mitigated in advance for horses to safely enter and return to their countries or other destinations, according to OIE.

The ministry submitted the self-declaration to OIE on Feb 8 after evaluating the establishment of Tonglu EDFZ on Jan 4. The self-declaration included processes for the management and maintenance of the zone, as well as overall veterinary services in China.

The EDFZ in Tonglu will be temporarily valid from Friday to Dec 31, according to OIE.