1.0 Background

Outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) caused by the H5N1 subtype of influenza A had been spreading across the globe since 2003. Nepal so far has no recorded case of HPAI in either avian or humans. However, the country is at high risk, with the disease already recorded in China to the north and in India to the south. In addition Nepal is on two routes for migratory birds, which are known to be carriers of the disease.

The Avian Influenza Control Project aims to minimize the threat posed by HPAI to humans in Nepal by : i) controlling such infections among birds, especially domestic poultry and ii) preparing for, controlling, and responding to possible human infections, especially an influenza epidemic and related emergencies. The Project envisages three types of interventions: i) prevention, ii) preparedness and planning, and iii) response and containment in case of AI outbreaks.

The Project has four main components- i) Animal Health; ii) Human Health; iii) Public Awareness and Information; and iv) Implementation Support and Monitoring and Evaluation.

This Environmental Management Plan (EMP) covers only the first component, Animal Health. In the case of Human Health, the Environmental Impact Assessment of Nepal Health Sector Program-Implementation Plan (NHSP-IP) prepared in June 2003 and the Healthcare Waste Management in Nepal prepared in June 2003 under the Nepal Health Sector Program are applicable and serves the purpose of Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for this component. Activities under third and fourth components (Public Awareness and Information, Implementation Support and Monitoring and Evaluation) are unlikely to cause any adverse environmental impacts, and hence EMP is not necessary for them.

Activities under Animal Health Component: This component will support national prevention and control strategies and will finance activities for: i) enhancing avian influenza prevention and preparedness; ii) strengthening of veterinary services, disease surveillance, diagnostic capacity and applied research; and iii) strengthening avian influenza control and outbreak containment plans including improving bio-security in poultry production and trade. Specific activities include: Surveillance and epidemiological investigation, Participatory disease intelligence, Capacity-building of veterinary and wildlife professionals for surveillance and bio-safety, Development of GIS-based animal disease surveillance and information systems, Strengthening animal quarantine, Strengthening laboratory capacity, Strengthening veterinary services and avian influenza control and containment plan, Communication and Compensation fund to assist poultry owners for loss of assets caused by mandatory culling of their birds.

2.0 Policy and Legal Framework

The Government of Nepal (GoN) has prepared strategic plan, “National Avian Influenza Control and Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan (NAIIPPRP)” with the objective of protecting people and livestock against future outbreaks of AI within Nepal border. This plan has been build on the National Contingency Plan for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza that was in place since 2004.

The Animal Health and Livestock Services Act 1998, the Slaughterhouse and Meat Inspection Act 1999 and the Nepal Veterinary Council Act 1999 are the three acts relevant to the livestock sector. These acts and their rules made provisions and define procedures relating to animal quarantine, regulating slaughter of animals and sale of meat, disposal of animal or products of animal origin or livestock product materials, disease information, disinfection, etc. For example, the Animal Health and Livestock Services Regulation 1999 requires that any animal, products of animal origin or livestock product materials be either burnt or buried in 3 feet deep pit or disposed of in accordance with the procedures set forth by the Department. The dead body of an animal should be disposed of so as not to causing spread of disease and the vehicle transporting such animal shall have to be disinfected.

The Department of Livestock Services has issued the Hatchery Standard: the standard also includes code of practice and defines requirements for hatchery building, sanitation, and bio-security.

The Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1997 and Environmental Protection Rules (EPR) 1997 define when environmental study is required, including procedures for undertaking such study. According to the Environmental Protection Rules 1997 establishing a farm for 2000 to 5000 domestic fowl require Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is necessary if the number exceeds 5000. Importing, sale, supply, storage, disposal and use of substances defined by the government as toxic require environmental studies if these exceeds certain threshold: for example, an IEE is required for storage of 100 kg to 1 ton of toxic substances.

The strategic plan, acts and regulations, and standard provides basic legal framework for environmental management in the Avian Influenza Control Project.

The implementation/ enforcement of the regulatory provisions has been generally weak, basically due to capacity constraints, weak monitoring and inadequacy or lack of details in the provisions. The GoN has recently prepared a draft Guidelines for Investigation, Prevention and Control of Bird Flu (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza): this explains standard operating procedures (SOP) for investigation, prevention and control of bird flu. This is much more detailed than the provisions made in the rules, and adapts relevant international / neighboring countries experiences.

3.0 Potential Environmental Impact

Most activities proposed under the Avian Influenza Control Project are likely to have limited adverse environmental impacts as they are designed to enhance capacity of relevant agencies, help better prepared for timely detection and dealing with AI outbreaks in poultry, and raise stakeholders’ awareness regarding AI.

Although project activities/ interventions are focused to AI, these are expected to indirectly contribute in improving sanitation in poultry farming, waste-management at poultry farm unit as well as laboratories, pollution control, and controlling infectious diseases because of increased awareness and enhanced capacity. Environmental safeguards are mainstreamed in the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the project: these will not only ensure implementation of environmental measures in the project, but are likely to positively influence environmental practices and performance in the sector in general. All these are likely to result improved environmental management in the sector and hence positive environmental impacts in the long-run.

Minor adverse environmental impacts may result from the construction activities, collection of samples/ specimen, laboratory wastes and setting up of sentinel outpost: these can easily be mitigated by simple measures recommended in Table 1.

Significant adverse environmental impacts, however, may occur during emergency operation activities for containment of HPAI outbreaks basically from inappropriate culling and transportation of infected and at-risk birds, disposal of carcasses, and use of chemicals for disinfection. Following are the main risks and concerns, if appropriate mitigation measures are not in-place;

The identified environmental impacts of the project could be avoided or minimized to acceptable level by integrating environmental and public health safety aspects in the design and implementation of activities. Table 1 contains likely environmental impacts and appropriate mitigation measures as well as mitigations, supervision and monitoring responsibilities. The Guidelines for Investigation, Prevention and Control of Bird Flu (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) has already incorporated some of the mitigation measures. Training on these measures and monitoring the preparation as well as enforcement are critical in order to ensure effective implementation of the recommended measures.

4. Additional Sources of Information

Besides, the recommendation made in Table 1 and provisions made and procedures defined in the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), additional information on various subjects related to environmental management of Avian Influenza Control Project activities could be found in the following internet websites.