21 July 2025 His Excellency the Minister of Environment Water & Agriculture and Chairman of the Administration Council of the National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plants Pests and Animal Diseases “Weqaa”, Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, chaired the 18th meeting of the Council at Weqaa Center headquarters in Riyadh. The meeting was attended by the Center’s President & CEO, Eng. Aymen bin Saad Al Ghamdi, along with the Council members. The meeting commenced with a review of the agenda, follow-up on previous directives and decisions, and discussion of recent developments aimed at enhancing plant and animal wealth, supporting and enabling collaboration with relevant entities, and strengthening the Center’s assigned functions. During the meeting, the Council approved Weqaa’s proposed budget for the fiscal year 2026. The Council was also briefed on: • Key performance indicators of Weqaa Center’s strategic plan. • The official declaration of the Kingdom’s freedom from African Horse Sickness. • The national disease-free plan for major animal diseases. • The implementation plan for internal quarantine management and animal movement mechanisms across the Kingdom. Additional updates included: • The classification of highly pathogenic avian influenza as an emerging disease in cattle. • The Center’s preparedness measures. • Outcomes from the veterinary advisory boards (poultry, dairy, and equine). • The executive and developmental plan for desert locust control. The Council was also briefed on recent developments in qualification and licensing for the private sector.