Animal health threats represent a major challenge, not only for the livestock sector but also for protecting and promoting public health in all ASEAN Member States (MS). This has been recognized by ASEAN on multiple occasions and resulted in the establishment of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Animal Health and Zoonoses (ACCAHZ) in 2016. Among the functions agreed upon by ASEAN, the ACCAHZ is expected to provide policy and technical support to the ASEAN bodies in developing and implementing regional strategies for the prevention, control, and eradication of transboundary animal diseases and zoonoses.

The fact that investing in the prevention of infectious diseases is more cost-effective than responding to infectious disease events has been extensively documented. Applying the One Health approach to prevention efforts can increase efficiency and save billions of dollars. Preventing further pandemics using a One Health approach would only cost 2% of the total damage incurred in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has put the One Health approach in the spotlight, as reflected in the ASEAN Leaders Declaration (ALD) on One Health Initiatives, which is currently under development.