Section 4:1-49 - Findings, declaration relative to "One Health"The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. The term "One Health" reflects the interconnectedness of human health, animal health, and the environment;b. The strong connections and interdependency between human, companion animal, livestock, and ecosystem health are recognized in the One Health initiative framework, which facilitates addressing complex, multi-disciplinary issues such as zoonotic diseases, vector-borne diseases, and antimicrobial resistance;c. Existing One Health initiatives at the federal level include the One Health Office established by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the One Health Coordination Center established by the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and worldwide more than 950 prominent scientists, physicians, and veterinarians have endorsed the One Health initiative;d. Awareness and collaboration among disciplines will help protect the environment, the health of all species, save lives in present and future generations, and increase quality of life, physical and mental health, and productivity;e. The term "One Health" recognizes that the health of people is connected to the health of animals and the environment and is described as a collaborative, multi-sector, and transdisciplinary approach, working at the local, regional, national, and global levels, with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment;f. One Health is not a new concept, but it has become increasingly important in recent years as many factors have changed interactions between people, animals, and the environment, leading to the emergence or reemergence of many diseases;g. A One Health approach is important because: six out of every 10 infectious diseases in humans are spread from animals; animals can sometimes serve as early warning signs of potential illness in people; and public health preparedness depends on agriculture in a variety of ways, including the cultivation of a wide-range of vaccines in poultry eggs; andh. It is, therefore, in the public interest for the State to establish a permanent New Jersey One Health Task Force to promote the health and wellness of New Jersey's residents, animals, including pets, livestock, and wildlife, and natural resources by encouraging the collaborative efforts of experts and leveraging knowledge and resources effectively.Added by L. 2021, c. 117,s. 1, eff. 6/24/2021.