India has earned global recognition as ICAR-NIHSAD Bhopal receives Category A Rinderpest Holding Facility status from WOAH and FAO. This places India among a select few nations trusted with safeguarding the world from a deadly livestock disease that once wreaked havoc.
In a significant achievement for India’s animal health sector, the ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal has been designated as a Category A Rinderpest Holding Facility (RHF) by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Image Ref: https://www.pib.gov.in/
This recognition, announced at the 92nd WOAH General Session in Paris on May 29, 2025, positions India among six elite global laboratories entrusted with the secure containment of Rinderpest Virus-Containing Material (RVCM). The certificate was received by Ms. Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) and India’s official WOAH Delegate.
Rinderpest—often called the “cattle plague”—was a deadly disease that devastated livestock populations for centuries. Although it was officially declared eradicated in 2011, the virus still exists in controlled lab environments to prevent accidental resurgence or bioterror threats.
The ICAR-NIHSAD facility, a Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) lab and WOAH reference center for avian influenza, had already been serving as India’s official RVCM repository since 2012. However, it was after a detailed international review in March 2025 that the institute was granted Category A RHF status for its advanced biosafety protocols, precise inventory systems, and emergency preparedness.
Image Ref: https://www.pib.gov.in/
“This achievement reflects our continued commitment to global biosecurity and the One Health approach, where human, animal, and environmental health are closely linked,” said Ms. Upadhyaya. She also noted India’s critical role in eradicating rinderpest and now in preventing its return.
The international committee has encouraged India to work towards Category B status, which would allow the country to handle vaccine seed material—another major step in reinforcing India’s stature in global veterinary science.
This milestone not only celebrates India’s scientific excellence but also reaffirms its readiness to lead in critical areas of animal health and bio-risk management on the world stage.