Food safety and transboundary zoonotic diseases have become pressing issues of global concern. Changing lifestyles—including consumption behaviors, livestock production patterns, trends in antimicrobial use, international travel, and global trade—have had significant impacts on public health and the global economy. In response, advancing knowledge and practices in managing food safety and zoonotic threats is increasingly crucial, particularly given heightened public awareness of these issues.

The 4th Food Safety and Zoonoses Symposium for Asia Pacific was organized to foster collaboration at the local, regional, and international levels to advance new knowledge in veterinary public health, food safety, and the international trade of animal-origin products. The symposium highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary expertise and scientific capacity to address these challenges.

The Veterinary Public Health Centre for Asia Pacific (VPHCAP), a regional information hub for food safety and zoonoses, hosted the symposium. The program emphasized local and international academic exchange, innovation, and networking among experts and scientists in food safety, zoonoses, and EcoHealth/One Health, with the goal of strengthening academic cooperation and advancing future research. The symposium also aimed to enhance international collaboration and knowledge-sharing to improve analysis and surveillance systems.

Conference Theme

  • The 4th Food Safety and Zoonoses Symposium for Asia Pacific

  • The 2nd Regional EcoHealth Symposium

  • Global and Regional Health Education

Objectives

  • To showcase the achievements of VPHCAP over the past 12 years by presenting updated information and alumni contributions.

  • To strengthen and sustain the MVPH alumni network through collaboration with experts, researchers, and the private sector, contributing to regional progress within ASEAN.

  • To exchange updated knowledge and share One Health experiences in public health, including food safety, food- and waterborne diseases, emerging infectious diseases, and other vector-borne or zoonotic diseases.

  • To contribute to the advancement of veterinary public health in Asia Pacific by fostering science and technology development, particularly among MVPH students, while engaging expert feedback to encourage future collaboration.

  • To nurture integrative research and accelerate learning across human, animal, and environmental health through international collaborative networks.

A total of 97 participants attended the symposium, representing academic institutions, government agencies, and the private sector from 14 countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Germany, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam.