WOAH adopted its 8th Strategic Plan for 2027–2031 in Paris, structured around three strategic orientations. The plan draws on a report warning that more than 20% of global animal production is lost every year to preventable diseases.
Members of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) adopted on May 20, 2026, in Paris, the 8th Strategic Plan for the period 2027–2031, a shared roadmap aimed at strengthening prevention and health resilience. The agreement was reached during the General Session following several months of consultations, at a time of growing pressure on animal health systems worldwide, and it reflects Members' collective commitment to investing in resilience and positioning animal health as a fundamental pillar of global stability.
The urgency of this agenda is underscored by the most recent State of the World's Animal Health report, published on May 13, 2026. The document highlights the acceleration of health risks, widening investment gaps and growing pressure on veterinary systems, and it shows that more than 20% of global animal production is lost every year to preventable diseases, while less than USD 1 billion a year is invested in animal health systems.
In this context, the 8th Strategic Plan sets out a clear vision: strengthening animal health systems as the foundation of food security, public health, economic resilience and sustainable development. Climate change, global trade, antimicrobial resistance and growing demand for food of animal origin are making challenges increasingly complex and interconnected, so the plan positions animal health as a global strategic priority that requires coordinated action across countries and sectors.
The plan is structured around three strategic orientations, each designed to address the critical gaps identified through consultations with Members and global evidence.
The first priority is to continue developing international standards on animal health and welfare, ensuring that they remain scientifically sound, adaptable and applicable to all Members. These standards underpin safe trade, guide national policies and support the development of effective animal health systems. The plan emphasizes greater Member engagement in the standard-setting process and efforts to understand and address the obstacles to their adoption.
The second priority focuses on strengthening animal health and welfare systems, the foundation of disease prevention, detection and response. Despite the progress made, gaps persist in personnel capacity, surveillance systems and emergency preparedness, increasing the likelihood that outbreaks will spread. The plan responds by prioritizing capacity building, knowledge sharing and closer collaboration among Members, with a comprehensive "One Health" approach.
The third orientation seeks to place animal health at the center of global policy debates and investment decisions. The report makes clear that the lack of investment entails significant risks, from food insecurity and economic losses to the growing threat of zoonotic diseases and pandemics. The plan therefore emphasizes advocacy, communication and engagement with decision-makers, in order to mobilize political will and financial investment and to foster a broader understanding of animal health as an essential global public good.
Although the 8th Strategic Plan will officially enter into force in 2027, its adoption in May 2026 marks the start of a critical transition phase. The plan sets out a structured approach to its implementation, backed by organizational mechanisms: global and regional roadmaps, together with robust monitoring frameworks, will ensure transparency and effective strategic management of its execution.
Sustained commitment and investment from Members and partners will be key factors in the plan's success. As the State of the World's Animal Health report makes clear, the choice is not between investing and saving, but between planned investment and unforeseen losses; with this new Strategic Plan, Members have chosen to invest in prevention, cooperation and long-term impact, for the benefit of animals, people and the planet.
