The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) was called on to work closely with localities hit by bird flu, the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) in pigs (known as blue ear disease) and foot-and-mouth disease in cattle to stem the spread of the outbreaks.

MARD was also asked to restructure the animal husbandry sector in a bid to ensure that consumer rights and public health remained top priorities while increasing the inspection and management of the transport of cattle, poultry and their products from the sites of outbreaks.

Other items up for attention at the meeting was a directive given to the Ministry of Fisheries to organise teams to examine the application of food hygiene and safety standards at seafood processing facilities. The fishery sector, which is set to rake in export earnings of US$3.6 billion this year, was urged to resort to every measure to maintain and expand overseas markets.