From Russia the meeting was attended by representatives of the Rosselkhoznadzor subordinate research institutes: the Federal centre for animal health (fgbi "ARRIAH") and the all-Russian state Centre quality and standardization of medicines for animals and feed (fgbi "VGNKI"). Fgbu "VGNKI" was presented by the Director of the Center Leonid Kish.

The world reference laboratory for FMD was founded in 1958 as a joint research centre of the OIE and FAO on the basis of the British Institute of Pirbright. The creation of the lab was part of a global strategy for FMD control in the midst of an epidemic of this viral disease in Europe.

This year's session reports in honor of the anniversary of the lab began with a welcome speech Director of the Institute of Pirbright Brian of Charleston. The opening was also attended by the chief veterinarian of the UK Christine Middlemiss. The representatives of FAO and the Institute of Pirbright read papers about the history of the world reference laboratory for FMD and the tasks and challenges facing the laboratory today. Some of the reports focused on the molecular evolution of the virus of foot and mouth disease, modeling the spread of disease and new tools for its quick field diagnostics.

The Director of the fgbi "VGNKI" has held talks with the Director of the Institute of Pirbright Mr. Charleston. The parties discussed the possibility of signing a Memorandum on scientific and technical cooperation and paid special attention to cooperation in training of specialists and the collection of strains of microorganisms of the fgbi "VGNKI". Also managed to talk to the chief veterinarian of the UK Christine Middlemiss that VGNKI thanked for the warm reception in the spring of 2018 in the framework of the Central regional meeting of the OIE.