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Title: THE CONCEPT OF COMPARTMENTALISATION

Author
item SCOTT, A - USDA-APHIS-FT COLLINS,CO
item ZEPEDA, C - USDA-APHIS-FT COLLINS,CO
item GARBER, L - USDA-APHIS-FT COLLINS,CO
item SMITH, J - FIELDALE FARMS CORP,GA
item Swayne, David
item ROHRER, A - USDA-APHIS-CONYERS,GA
item KELLER, J - CANADIAN FOOD INSP-CANADA
item SHIMSHONY, A - TEL AVIV - ISRAEL
item BATHO, H - BRUXELLES, BELGIUM
item CAPORALE, V - OIE SCIENT. COMMIS- ITALY
item GIOVANNINI, A - ZOOPROFILATTICO-ITALY

Submitted to: Office of International Epizootics Scientific and Technical Review
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2006
Publication Date: 12/1/2006
Citation: Scott, A., Zepeda, C., Garber, L., Smith, J., Swayne, D.E., Rohrer, A., Keller, J., Shimshony, A., Batho, H., Caporale, V., Giovannini, A. 2006. The concept of compartmentalisation. Reviews of the Scientific and Technical Office of International Epizootics. 25(3):873-879.

Interpretive Summary: Trade between countries in animals and animal products should involve safe principles which will reduce the opportunity for exchange of animal diseases. Many countries use borders or geographic boundaries to define disease free areas in animal populations. However, animal production systems are linked by management factors and not necessarily geographic boundaries. This new concept is compartmentalization. Seven factors are used to define compartments and assure disease-free trade in animals and animal products.

Technical Abstract: The rationale for establishing trade regions and zones is based on principles of epidemiological science and risk analysis to assess and manage animal disease risks in a manner to allow safe trade. However, the boundaries of geographic regions and zones may readily be breached through numerous epidemiological pathways. The concept of a compartment extends the application of a “risk boundary” beyond that of a geographic interface and considers all epidemiological factors contributing to a functional separation that creates an effective boundary. The fundamental requirement for application of either concept is that the population considered for trade maintains a functional separation through management or geographic boundaries allowing clear epidemiological differentiation from populations of higher risk. Seven factors are presented that an exporting country might use to guide the identification and documentation of a compartment. Additionally, the steps that would be undertaken to implement trade based on the compartmentalization concept are discussed.