Andorra and Spain to Sign Protocol for Lab Access in Animal Disease Control

Andorra and Spain are finalising a cooperation protocol that will allow the Principality to use specialised analysis services from Spain's reference laboratories for transmissible animal diseases when required.

The agreement, expected to be signed before the end of the year, stems from bilateral talks in Córdoba between Andorra's Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, Guillem Casal, and Spain's Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas. The meeting occurred during the XII Ibero-American Conference of Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Casal noted that the arrangement will reinforce Andorra's prevention, surveillance and response capabilities against potential health emergencies, while consolidating strategic ties with Spain. It will enable access to Spanish labs for necessary specialised testing in cases of animal-transmissible diseases.

The ministers reviewed ongoing collaboration in agricultural production, animal health and plant health. They highlighted the success of a technical protocol facilitating the return of pallets and wooden packaging from the European Union, which ensures traceability and phytosanitary standards. Both sides expressed commitment to deeper bilateral work, particularly via annual trilateral animal health meetings with France.

At the conference, Casal contributed to sessions on innovation, digitalisation and sanitary cooperation. He outlined Andorra's use of new technologies in mountain extensive livestock farming to improve farm management, productivity, animal welfare and health monitoring. He also presented the country's "One Health" initiatives, covering zoonoses, vector surveillance, antimicrobial resistance and climate change effects on health.

The gathering ended with the Córdoba Declaration, affirming Ibero-American commitments to sustainable food production, food security and resilient agro-food systems to address hunger and malnutrition. It supports preparations for the XXX Ibero-American Summit in Madrid this autumn, themed "Ibero-America. Together we build our Community. Together we project it into the future and the world."