Is the Western Pacific ready for a cross-border food safety emergency? Countries test their readiness

JAKARTA, 1 OCTOBER 2026 —

In a significant demonstration of regional preparedness, countries and areas across the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region concluded IHR Exercise Crystal on 24 September 2026.

The 2026 edition specifically focused on a simulated cross-border food safety emergency within the poultry supply chain, a scenario designed to trigger a dual response involving both human health and food safety protocols. By integrating the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) into the exercise, the simulation provided a critical test of how well these two distinct but interconnected networks can operate in unison during a crisis.

The exercise is not merely a procedural drill but a direct implementation of high-level political commitments made by Member States. In October 2025, at the seventy-sixth session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, the Region became the first in the world to endorse a plan to implement amendments to the IHR. This landmark decision committed participating countries to strengthen multisectoral coordination and identify priority measures to improve collective regional readiness.

IHR Exercise Crystal 2026 serves as a practical mechanism to put these commitments into action, ensuring that the theoretical frameworks agreed upon in diplomatic sessions are translated into operational capabilities on the ground.

The scenario chosen for this year’s exercise reflects the increasing complexity of modern public health threats, which often blur the lines between traditional health sectors. By simulating a contamination event in the poultry supply chain, the exercise highlighted the necessity for rapid information sharing between health authorities and food safety regulators.

National IHR Focal Points joined the exercise side by side with INFOSAN Emergency Contact Points, allowing them to practice the specific steps of notification, verification, and coordination required under international regulations. This joint participation is crucial because a real-world incident involving contaminated food products would require simultaneous action from both health and agricultural sectors to prevent the spread of disease and protect public safety.

IHR Exercise Crystal has been a cornerstone of regional emergency preparedness since its inception in 2008. Over the past nearly two decades, the exercise has utilized a wide range of scenarios to test different aspects of emergency response. Previous iterations have included simulations of novel respiratory illnesses, radiological events, and emerging arboviruses.

This variety ensures that focal points are not just prepared for one type of threat but are equipped to handle a broad spectrum of potential emergencies. The consistent annual nature of the exercise provides a safe space for officials to practice critical procedures without the pressure of an actual crisis, allowing them to identify and rectify weaknesses in systems, plans, and interpersonal relationships before they become critical failures during a real event.

Dr Gina Samaan, WHO Regional Emergency Director for the Western Pacific, emphasized the tangible benefits of maintaining such rigorous testing protocols. She noted that testing and keeping systems emergency-ready serves a dual purpose: saving lives and mitigating socioeconomic impact. According to Dr Samaan, exercises like Crystal are essential for keeping the investment in readiness robust.

She stated, “Exercises like Crystal are how we keep that investment in readiness robust - testing our cross-border coordination, stress-testing how fast information really moves, and finding gaps in the system while the stakes are still zero.” This perspective underscores the economic rationale behind public health preparedness, linking effective emergency response to the protection of regional economic stability.

The 2026 exercise also builds upon recent collaborative efforts in the region, specifically a food safety emergency simulation held with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta, Indonesia, in July 2026. During that earlier exercise, all 11 ASEAN Member States rehearsed a coordinated response to a simulated cross-border food contamination event.

IHR Exercise Crystal 2026 extends this specific test of readiness to the entire Western Pacific Region, broadening the scope of coordination beyond Southeast Asia to include other nations in the WHO region. This expansion indicates a growing trend toward regional integration in health security, where sub-regional successes are scaled up to address broader geographic challenges.

Participating countries have highlighted the practical utility of the exercise in refining their national procedures. Dr Azjargal Batjargal, National IHR Focal Point from the Ministry of Health of Mongolia, spoke on behalf of one of the participating countries regarding the exercise's relevance. He shared that Mongolia is currently updating its national procedure for information exchange with INFOSAN.

The goal of this update is to ensure that risk assessment guidance and the criteria for deciding when information should be shared with other countries are clear to all stakeholders. Dr Batjargal described the exercise as “very timely and useful” for this ongoing process, illustrating how simulation exercises directly inform and improve national policy and operational guidelines.

Beyond immediate operational improvements, IHR Exercise Crystal advances broader strategic goals set by the WHO. The exercise supports the Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC) initiative, which aims to build a connected and interoperable health emergency workforce across countries. By bringing together National IHR Focal Points and INFOSAN Emergency Contact Points, the exercise fosters professional relationships and mutual understanding among emergency leaders.

These leaders are the ones who will need to work side by side during a real multi-hazard event, whether that involves a novel pathogen, a chemical incident, or a contaminated food product. The interoperability developed through such exercises is critical for ensuring that different national systems can function as a cohesive unit when the pressure is highest.

Ms Qiu Yi Khut, Programme Area Manager for IHR and Health Security Policy at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, highlighted the proactive nature of the Region’s approach.

She stated, “By connecting emergency leaders across human health and food safety systems, and making joint simulation exercises a standing part of how we prepare, the Region is taking proactive steps to make sure that when lives are on the line, leaders know who to call and systems know how to work as one.” This quote encapsulates the shift from reactive crisis management to proactive preparedness, where the focus is on establishing clear lines of communication and operational protocols in advance of any emergency.

The outcomes of IHR Exercise Crystal 2026 will have lasting implications for the region’s health security architecture. Recommendations generated from this year’s exercise will help countries and areas further strengthen the capacities of their National IHR Focal Points and INFOSAN Emergency Contact Points. These improvements are part of a broader effort under the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework, which aims to prevent outbreaks and public health incidents from escalating into wider emergencies.

By continuously refining these capacities, the Region aims to reduce the likelihood of localized incidents becoming regional or global crises.

For Malaysia and its neighbors in the Western Pacific, the exercise underscores the importance of maintaining robust cross-border communication channels. As a major hub for trade and travel, the region is particularly vulnerable to the rapid spread of health threats, including those related to food safety. The integration of INFOSAN into the IHR exercise framework signals a recognition that food safety is an integral component of public health security.

The ability to quickly verify and share information about contaminated products or pathogens is essential for protecting public health and maintaining confidence in regional supply chains.

The conclusion of IHR Exercise Crystal 2026 marks another step in the maturation of the Western Pacific Region’s emergency response capabilities. By testing systems in a controlled environment, the Region is ensuring that its response mechanisms are not just theoretically sound but practically effective. The exercise has demonstrated the value of multisectoral coordination and the importance of regular, joint simulations in building trust and operational familiarity among national authorities.

As the Region continues to implement the amendments to the IHR endorsed in 2025, exercises like Crystal will remain a vital tool for maintaining readiness and ensuring that the Region can respond effectively to future public health emergencies.

The focus on the poultry supply chain in this year’s scenario is particularly relevant for the region, where poultry is a staple food and a significant part of the agricultural economy. A cross-border food safety emergency in this sector could have severe economic and health consequences. The exercise’s emphasis on the coordination between health and food safety authorities highlights the need for integrated approaches to managing such risks.

By identifying bottlenecks and improving information flow, the Region is better positioned to mitigate the impact of such incidents, protecting both public health and economic interests.

The participation of diverse countries in the exercise, including Mongolia and the broader Western Pacific Region, reflects the inclusive nature of the WHO’s approach to health security. The sharing of experiences and best practices among participating nations helps to raise the overall standard of emergency preparedness across the Region.

The exercise also serves as a platform for building networks among emergency leaders, which can be crucial for rapid response in the event of a real crisis. The relationships formed during these simulations can facilitate smoother communication and cooperation when time is of the essence.

As the Region moves forward, the lessons learned from IHR Exercise Crystal 2026 will be integrated into national and regional strategies for health security. The emphasis on multisectoral coordination and the use of simulation exercises as a tool for continuous improvement aligns with global trends in public health preparedness. The Region’s leadership in endorsing the IHR amendments and implementing them through practical exercises sets a precedent for other regions.

By maintaining a high level of readiness, the Western Pacific Region is not only protecting its own population but also contributing to global health security.

The exercise also highlights the role of the WHO in facilitating regional cooperation and capacity building. By organizing and supporting such exercises, the WHO provides a framework for countries to work together and share resources. The involvement of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific in the exercise ensures that the activities are aligned with global standards and best practices.

The feedback and recommendations from the exercise will be used to guide future efforts to strengthen health security in the Region.

In conclusion, IHR Exercise Crystal 2026 has demonstrated the Region’s commitment to maintaining a high level of preparedness for public health emergencies. The focus on a cross-border food safety emergency in the poultry supply chain has provided valuable insights into the coordination challenges between health and food safety authorities. The exercise has helped to identify gaps in the system and improve the efficiency of information sharing.

As the Region continues to implement the IHR amendments, exercises like Crystal will play a crucial role in ensuring that the Region is ready to respond to future challenges. The proactive approach taken by the Region in testing its systems and building its capacities is a model for other regions to follow.

Related: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific · Dr Gina Samaan