Preventing future zoonotic pandemics: strengthening national legal frameworks & international cooperation

This report examines how national legal frameworks and international cooperation can help prevent future zoonotic pandemics, with a particular focus on the role of wildlife trade in the emergence and spread of infectious diseases. It develops a set of legal best practices that policymakers can use to assess and strengthen legislation related to wildlife trade, zoonotic disease prevention, preparedness, and response. The report adopts a One Health approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, and emphasizes the importance of translating international agreements and recommendations into effective national laws. 

The report finds that preventing zoonotic disease spillover is significantly more effective and less costly than responding to large-scale outbreaks once they occur. It highlights wildlife trade as an important driver of emerging zoonotic diseases and argues that stronger, harmonized legal frameworks are needed at both national and international levels to reduce pandemic risks. The study stresses that prevention, preparedness, and response should be supported by evidence-based legislation, early warning systems, risk communication strategies, and cross-border cooperation. It also emphasizes that implementing One Health principles and regulating wildlife trade can play a crucial role in reducing the likelihood of future pandemics, while improving global health security and resilience.