Equipass presented to global delegations at the WOAH 93rd General Session
The International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) and Equipass were proud to participate in the 93rd General Session of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), held in Paris from 18–22 May 2026.
Bringing together representatives from 130 countries and territories, international institutions, veterinary authorities, and industry stakeholders, the General Session once again positioned itself as one of the most influential global gatherings dedicated to animal health governance, veterinary systems, and international cooperation.
Throughout the week, the Equipass team was delighted to welcome visitors to our booth and engage in meaningful conversations with delegations from around the world.
Our presence at the event reinforced the growing importance of digital innovation in modern animal health systems and highlighted the role that traceability and interoperable data can play in improving equine welfare and international horse movement.
Advancing equine traceability worldwide
The discussions held during the WOAH General Session reinforced the importance of international collaboration and harmonised standards in ensuring better animal welfare and movement traceability.
Presented by the International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC), Equipass demonstrated how digital equine identity systems can support the future of veterinary governance and equine mobility. Through live demonstrations at our kiosk, visitors discovered how our solutions can help:
- Contribute to cross-border horse movement safety
- Reduce administrative burden on veterinary authorities
- Strengthen vaccination verification and disease surveillance
- Improve traceability and health status monitoring
- Support harmonisation of standards across jurisdictions
During the event, our booth provided an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and perspectives with veterinary policymakers, delegates, and industry representatives interested in digital transformation.
Aligning with WOAH’s vision for animal health
Several sessions during the General Session reflected themes closely aligned with Equipass’ position, particularly the growing recognition of animal health as a global public good that underpins food security, trade, public health, and long-term economic resilience.
“Investing in Animal Health to Secure Everyone’s Future.”
Throughout the sessions, WOAH representatives emphasised that animal health systems are facing increasing pressure from globalisation, climate change, emerging disease risks, and antimicrobial resistance, and that these challenges require sustained and strategic investment.
Key priorities highlighted across the forum
- Strengthening and adequately funding veterinary and animal health infrastructure
- Improving coordination between public and private stakeholders within veterinary services
- Enhancing the availability, quality, and sharing of animal health data
- Supporting evidence-based decision-making through better use of information and economic analysis
- Building long-term resilience to transboundary animal diseases and zoonotic risks
During the technical discussions, participants consistently identified limited transparency and data gaps as primary barriers to animal health governance. Addressing these challenges requires interoperable systems that can streamline workflows and bolster both prevention and response capacities.
Equipass’s vision is fundamentally aligned with WOAH’s highlighted priorities of enhancing data quality, coordinating stakeholders, and empowering veterinary services and authorities.
Meaningful exchanges with international delegations
Over the course of the week, the IHSC team, including representatives from the Fédération Équestre Internationale, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, and Equipass, met with more than 40 international delegations, veterinary authorities such as global Chief Veterinary Officers, and institutional stakeholders interested in modernising identification processes and traceability systems.
For these discussions, the IHSC was honoured to host Dr. Alf-Eckbert Füssel, former Head of Sector for Animal Health (DG SANTE) at the European Commission, as a special guest. His participation provided valuable continuity, seamlessly connecting today's advancements with the many years of foundational work that have shaped our current landscape, paving the way for modern applications such as digital passports and e-health certificates.
Through these dialogues, we gained a deeper understanding of the diverse challenges experienced globally, whilst simultaneously conveying our ambition for a highly integrated and efficient equestrian community across borders.
Looking ahead
In addition to strengthening existing ties, this General Session facilitated new connections with organisations eager to collaborate. Ultimately, this reinforced our overarching vision to develop robust biosecurity frameworks that prioritise equine welfare, without compromising on efficiency, accessibility, or user-friendliness.
Our participation highlighted the increasing momentum behind digitalisation, traceability, and international cooperation in animal health. While many of the discussions throughout the week focused on governance, financing, and global standards, Equipass’s presence at the event demonstrated the practical dimension of that future: how digital systems can help support the implementation of modern veterinary and equine movement frameworks.
We look forward to continuing these conversations and contributing to a more connected, transparent, and welfare-focused future for equine traceability worldwide.
Images courtesy of WOAH
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