Preface This year, the

Preface This year, the annual scientific event of the Scientific Committee (SciCom) of the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC), has a particular dimension as it is organized in collaboration with the General-Directorate Control Policy of FASFC. The topic is “Emerging animal diseases: from science to policy”. As a scientific independent advisory body, SciCom has as a major task to perform risk assessment studies. In the framework of this objective, SciCom organises, every year a workshop in order to discuss new developments, to identify new challenges, to report on his activities to stakeholders and to reflect on his own activities. Within the rules of good governance a strict separation between risk assessment and risk management is general practice. It is however widely accepted that some interaction is advisable between assessors, policy makers, communicators and other interested parties. The second part of the title, “from science to policy”, demonstrates that both approaches will be included. As can be expected from the theme, this colloquium has an international dimension. For the first time, the annual scientific event is organized for a broader audience. In addition the viewpoint of international bodies will be clarified by speakers from FAO, OIE, EU and EFSA. Recent emerging events in the animal sector, such as the avian influenza and blue tongue outbreaks, clearly underline the importance of the theme. The complexity of the problems encountered, necessitates a multidisciplinary approach taking into account human, animal, economical, environmental and climatological factors. Emerging animal diseases are a real challenge for the immediate and further future for risk assessors and risk managers operating at a local as well as at an international level. It is hoped that this colloquium, through the scientific contributions and the viewpoints of representatives of international and national organisations, may contribute to our knowledge of the risk of the introduction and of the spread of emerging animal diseases. On behalf of the SciCom I want to thank: • the direction of the FASFC for their continuous support in the organization of the annual scientific event, • Prof. Dr. Ir. D. Berkvens, Dr. J. Hooyberghs and Prof. Dr. E. Thiry for chairing this colloquium and the different speakers for providing the audience with new knowledge, • and the local organizing committee, consisting of agents of the Scientific Secretariat and the General-Directorate Control Policy of the FASFC, for their work in planning, preparing and organizing this colloquium. Prof. Em. dr. ir. André Huyghebaert Chairman of the Scientific Committee 5