Eight participants, one each from 8 Asian countries, namely; – PR China, India, Japan, Rep. of Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines and Thailand participated in this workshop and the working group meeting. Besides these 8 participants, 35 Chinese experts/scientists from all over China participated in the workshop. Simultaneous translations (English to Chinese and vice versa) were made during the workshop.

The Minutes of the Working Group Meeting are as the follows:

1. The working group, consisting of 8 members, one each from PR China, India, Japan, RO Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines and Thailand participated in the meeting that followed the two days workshop on BSE and prion diseases (programme details attached). It was a general consensus that the workshop provided another good opportunity for all participants to refresh and update their knowledge and technical skills related to BSE and other prion diseases.

2. The group reviewed the minutes of the second working group meeting held in Tsukuba, Japan on 19 January 2007 and adopted. It also revised the TORs as below:
i. The founding working group members (as of 9 December 2005) comprise: 1) all participants of the OIE/FAO-APHCA/NIAH-Japan Regional Hands-on Training Workshop on BSE Diagnosis which was organized at the Prion Disease Research Center, NIAH of Japan between 30 November and 9 December 2005 (these participants were officially nominated by CVOs of their respective countries), 2) officials of OIE Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific (OIE Asia-Pacific) and FAO-APHCA, and 3) researchers of the OIE BSE Reference Laboratories, including the Prion Disease Research Center, NIAH of Japan;
ii. Japan was included as one of the members of the working group in 2008;
iii. The participating countries shall perform/enhance BSE and other prion diseases activities in their respective countries – in accordance with related international standards – OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code and Diagnostic Manuals, with the ultimate objective to obtain recognition for BSE negligible or controlled risk status;
iv. The participating countries and researchers shall collaborate amongst themselves in performing their respective duties, while OIE Asia-Pacific and FAO-APHCA should play coordinative and facilitating roles;
v. Participating countries shall provide their activity reports on BSE and prion diseases situations, including results of laboratory studies such as ELISA, IHC and WB in their respective countries. (These reports shall be presented at the forthcoming workshops); and
vi. The NIAH of Japan, being one of the OIE reference laboratories for BSE, shall provide technical support to the participating countries.

3. The group discussed various issues related to BSE and other prion diseases in details.
The issues comprised:

• a rapid screening test (IDEXX-ELISA);
• progress on the development of a real time PCR for detection of ruminant ingredients in animal feed;
• the situations and problems encountered regarding surveillance on BSE and other prion diseases in their countries;
• overview given by resource persons on pathogenesis, development on new diagnostic techniques including protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) in certain prion strains and animal species, and epidemiological outlook (history in the timeframe and species related on the disease);
• updates on related OIE standards and the official recognition for BSE risk status.

4. In order to continuously and smoothly pursue with the works on BSE and other prion diseases in all the participating countries, the following proposals were made to the co-organizers:

• periodical meetings, workshops and trainings in need shall be conducted in turn;
• exchange of expertise i.e. technical personnel and experts among the member countries;
• exchange of information in the field of BSE diagnosis and applications for status recognition on BSE;
• facilitation of collaborative activities and mechanisms on exchanges of materials, reagents and visits of scientists/experts necessary for laboratory works and studies on BSE and other prion diseases.

5. Strengthening mutual collaborations and dialogues amongst members shall be enhanced by e-mails or virtual networking by internet forum.

6. Members of the working group can be expanded when need arises or when other countries in the Asia-Pacific Region (member countries of OIE Asia-Pacific or FAO-APHCA) officially express their interests in joining.

7. The proposal from the RO Korea for organizing the next technical workshop and working group meeting at the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service in Anyang, RO Korea, tentatively in March 2010, was considered and accepted.

Follow-up actions:

1. The above Minutes of the Working Group Meeting were presented at the 32nd APHCA Session (organized in Bangkok, Thailand, between 27 and 30 October 2008).

2. The APHCA Secretariat will continue to provide coordinative supports to the working group.

3. Proposal for US$5,000 from APHCA TCDC fund was made and approved by the APHCA Session. This fund will be used to cover the airline ticket costs of the participants/working group members from APHCA countries to participate in the 4th OIE/FAO-APHCA Regional Workshop and Working Group Meeting, which was proposed to be organized in Anyang, RO Korea, tentatively in March 2010. Co-sponsorship and co-organization by OIE Asia-Pacific Office as well as collaboration by the National Veterinary