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Gap Assessment of Animal Health Legislation in Sri Lanka for Emerging Infectious Disease Preparedness

Legal preparedness is critical for emerging infectious disease (EID) management. The authors develop a framework for assessing Sri Lanka's animal health legislation in order to support EID preparedness. The most comprehensive set of policies addresses highly pathogenic avian influenza. Key deficiencies included (a) the lack of a legislative framework for veterinary public health that could support the necessary institutional structure and responsibilities, (b) the lack of requirements to report a broad set of zoonotic diseases, (c) the lack of authority for animal health agencies to control zoonotic food-borne diseases, and (d) the lack of authority to impose and enforce animal health standards. Such policy deficiencies partially reflect the government's focus on livestock production for national self-reliance, rural development and nutrition enhancement rather than for international trade. The steps now being taken to remedy these problems concentrate on creating an enhanced capacity for the early detection of disease. This study highlights the need to develop evidence-based criteria for EID policy.