The fifth Meeting of the GF-TADs Regional Steering Committee for the Middle East was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 26 April 2012. The meeting proposed the ‘Action Plan’ for the period of 2012-2016. This GF TADs Action Plan results from the collated conclusions and recommendations of all the meetings held in the Middle East region under the GF-TADs umbrella or during meetings that recommended the use of the GFTADs mechanism to influence and/or implement activities.

It was accepted at the meeting that the Regional Action Plan has been developed in line with the following five main principles: 1) Promoting ‘Global Public Good’ 2) Increasing early detection, early warning and rapid response, 3) Investing in the good governance of VS and in prevention measures and 5) Tackling diseases at the animal source and, 5) Allowing appropriate national and international collaboration between the Animal and Human Health authorities.