Four major international organizations renew One Health Memorandum of Understanding

Four international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), have agreed to extend the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the 'One Health' approach until 2030.

One Health is an integrative health approach based on the recognition that the health of humans, animals, plants, ecosystems, and the broader environment are intrinsically interconnected. Through this renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding, the four organizations reaffirmed their joint commitment to further accelerate the implementation of this approach.

Key areas of cooperation

The updated Memorandum of Understanding continues to provide a legal and operational framework for cooperation that leverages each organization's unique authority and comparative advantages. Key priority areas for cooperation include:

First, strengthening the health system. Establish a foundation for effectively responding to health threats by increasing each country's health capacity.

Second, prevention, preparation, and response to infectious diseases and pandemics. This is a field whose importance has become more highlighted since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it establishes a joint response system to the threat of infectious diseases that transcend national borders.

Third, control of endemic and neglected diseases. Strengthen international cooperation against diseases that still cause serious harm in developing countries.

Fourth, it is a response to the problem of antibiotic resistance (AMR). The spread of resistant bacteria due to misuse and abuse of antibiotics in both humans and animals is emerging as a global health threat.

Fifth, ensure food safety. Increase the safety of the entire food supply chain from farm to table.

Sixth, systematic integration of environmental considerations. Environmental factors must be reflected in One Health policies and actions.

Why this is important

The One Health approach is becoming more than just a concept, but a practical policy framework. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the world aware of how fatal the spread of pathogens from animals to humans (zoonotic diseases) can lead to.

The four organizations said they would continue to provide evidence-based policies and coordinated support to countries and partners in accordance with the principles of cooperation, shared responsibility, inclusiveness, equity, and gender equality. This aims to reduce health risks and promote sustainable health outcomes for humans, animals, plants, ecosystems and the global environment.

Korea is also expected to be a beneficiary of this strengthening of the international cooperation system as it is continuously exposed to the threat of zoonotic infectious diseases such as avian influenza and African swine fever. In particular, the issue of antibiotic resistance is considered an important issue in both the livestock industry and the medical community in Korea.