INTERCEPT - Monitoring the import of exotic animals, wild meat and the pathogens they carry

Wild meat is an important food source in many regions of the world. The taste preference and desire to retain cultural ties has generated an international market for wild meat. There are several reasons why the (illegal) import of exotic animals and wild meat into Belgium is a matter of concern. For example, species that are listed as vulnerable or critically endangered are being traded and the uncontrolled importation of exotic animals poses a health risk to public health, livestock, and local biodiversity through the transmission of exotic infectious diseases.

Together with its partners, Sciensano  aims to develop a fully operational and robust data collection workflow for the long-term monitoring of the import of exotic animals and wild meat into Belgium and of the associated health risks. Another aim is to increase the knowledge of the scale and diversity of the (illegal) trade in exotic animals and wild meat, and of its associated pathogens. 

In partnership with KBIN, KMMA, UAntwerpen and the Belgian biodiversity platform, Sciensano aims to:

• establish a centralised database of the incoming exotic animals and derived products imported into Belgium
• enable the sharing of this database among the different federal public services, agencies and other stakeholders
• set up optimised in-field protocols for data gathering and biological sampling
• set up workflows for laboratory pathogen testing and species identification. 

This way, we establish an efficient and durable work programme for monitoring the import of legal and illegal exotic animals and animal products. Such a strategy enables 

1. future evaluations of the impact of implemented measures concerning border controls and sensitisation, and 
2. an evidence-based assessment of the risk of emerging infectious diseases through this trade.