World Organisation for Animal Health

David Wilson Director International Trade OIE The OIE David Wilson Director International Trade OIE Workshop on OIE international standards Beijing 2005

Topics for discussion role and structure of the OIE international trade context

Role and structure of the OIE

The OIE World Organisation for Animal Health an intergovernmental organisation operating expenses are paid by member country contributions founded in 1924 by 28 countries predates the UN 167 Member Countries headquarters in Paris 5 Regional Representatives

Americas: 29 – Africa: 50 – Europe: 49 – Middle East: 13 – Asia: 26 167 Member Countries Comments (with copyright) / Commentaires (soumis au Copyright) : In May 2004, the OIE totaled 167 Member Countries. En mai 2004, l’OIE comptait 167 Pays Membres. Americas: 29 – Africa: 50 – Europe: 49 – Middle East: 13 – Asia: 26

The OIE’s objectives ensure transparency in global animal health situation collect, analyse and disseminate veterinary information contribute expertise and encourage coordinated approach to disease outbreaks strengthen veterinary services within its WTO mandate, safeguard world trade through animal health standards animal welfare and animal production food safety

Africa, Asia-Far East & Oceania, Americas, Europe, Middle East INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE Administrative Commission Director General Specialist Commissions Terrestrial Code, Aquatic Animals, Biological Standards, Scientific Regional Commissions Africa, Asia-Far East & Oceania, Americas, Europe, Middle East Central Bureau Collaborating Centres Reference Laboratories Ad hoc Groups Working Groups Administrative and Financial Department Animal Health Information Department International Trade Department Scientific and Technical Department Regional Activities Department Publications Department Regional Representatives

International Committee highest authority of the OIE comprises all the OIE Delegates usually the Chief Veterinary Officers Dr Jia Youling, Director General, Veterinary Bureau Ministry of Agriculture is PRC Delegate meets at least once a year principle of 'one country, one vote‘ elects members of the governing bodies of the OIE elects members of the Specialist Commissions appoints the Director General for a 5-year term Comments (with copyright) / Commentaires (soumis au Copyright) : [source : www.oie.int] The International Committee is the highest authority of the OIE. It comprises all the Delegates and meets at least once a year. The General Session of the International Committee lasts five days and is held every year in May in Paris. Voting by Delegates within the International Committee respects the democratic principle of 'one country, one vote'. The International Committee elects the members of the governing bodies of the OIE (President and Vice-President of the Committee, Members of the Administrative Commission, Regional and Specialist Commissions). He appoints the Director General of the OIE for a five year mandate. Le Comité international est l’organe suprême de l’OIE. Il est composé de tous les Délégués et se réunit au moins une fois par an. Sa Session générale, qui dure cinq jours, se tient tous les ans au mois de mai à Paris. Le vote des Délégués, au sein du Comité international, respecte le principe démocratique de "un pays, une voix". Le Comité international élit les membres des organes directeurs de l’OIE (Président et Vice-Président du Comité, Membres de la Commission administrative, des Commissions régionales et des Commissions spécialisées). Il nomme le Directeur général de l’OIE pour un mandat de cinq ans.

Specialist Commissions role is to use current scientific information to study problems of epidemiology and the prevention and control of animal diseases develop and revise OIE's international standards to address scientific and technical issues raised by Member Countries 4 Specialist Commissions Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases Biological Standards Commission Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission

Specialist Commissions The Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission (Terrestrial Code Commission) responsible for ensuring that the Terrestrial Animal Health Code reflects current scientific information The Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases assists in identifying the most appropriate strategies and measures for disease prevention and control examines Member Country submissions regarding their animal health status for those countries that wish to be included on the OIE official list of free countries and zones for certain diseases

Specialist Commissions The Biological Standards Commission establishes or approves methods for diagnosing diseases of mammals, birds and bees and for testing biological products, such as vaccines, used for control purposes oversees production of the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission compiles information on diseases of fish, molluscs and crustaceans, and on methods used to control these diseases produces the Aquatic Animal Health Code and the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals

Regional Representatives 5 OIE Regional Représentatives Africa (Bamako, Mali) Americas (Buenos Aires, Argentina) Asia, Far East and Oceania (Tokyo, Japan) Europe (Sofia, Bulgaria) Middle East (Beyrut, Lebanon) Comments (with copyright) / Commentaires (soumis au Copyright) : Insérer quelques informations sur chacune des commissions

International relationships WHO and FAO WTO Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) World Bank International Dairy Federation (IDF) Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) World Veterinary Association International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) International Meat Secretariat (IMS) Some regional orgs eg OAU-IBAR, IICA

International trade context

OIE’s WTO mandate WTO SPS Agreement recognises OIE as a reference organisation for international standards (3 sisters)

Standard-setting organisations food safety CODEX animal health OIE plant health IPPC The agreement explicitly recognizes as the relevant international standards those developed by Codex for food safety, those of the OIE for animal health and zoonoses, and those of the FAO IPPC for plant protection. Recent work by the OIE in cooperation with the Codex on food safety issues arising from diseases of animals may more clearly define the border between animal health and food safety concerns. What this means, is that governments which essentially write the OIE recommendations into their national requirements for animal health benefit from a legal presumption that they are complying also with their WTO obligations. The OIE recommendations are considered to be based on a risk analysis and not more trade restrictive than necessary to ensure adequate animal health protection. The OIE and other “sisters” are also consulted in the process of settling trade disputes at the WTO. In particular, they are asked for advice on internationally renowned experts in certain diseases or matters. Codex = Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission OIE = World Organisation for Animal Health IPPC = International Plant Protection Convention (FAO)

Why standards are necessary international public good enhance safety of international trade fewer disease outbreaks encourage harmonisation of national legislation and control measures fewer unjustified restrictions on trade promote fairer trade benefits to developing countries especially

Influences on standards from exporting countries for less restrictions from importing countries for maximum protection from producers / consumers / NGOs objective science

WTO SPS Agreement SPS Agreement applies to measures to protect human, animal and plant life and health from pests and diseases a country from damage caused by pests AND which may directly or indirectly affect international trade ie health measures ‘sanitary’ covers human and animal health ‘phytosanitary’ applies to plant health

Rights and obligations WTO an importing country has the right to adopt health measures to achieve the level of protection it thinks appropriate to protect its human, animal or plant life or health this level of protection must be consistently applied health measures must be based on scientific principles and not maintained without sufficient scientific evidence

Health measures - examples prior residence in disease-free area quarantine on arrival ante-mortem inspection testing residue limits for veterinary drugs or pesticides in food heat processing veterinary certification

Measures based on a health measure must be based on an international standard, if one exists unless there is scientific justification for a stronger measure or if a country decides it needs a higher level of protection than the standard provides in which case, a health measure must be based on a risk analysis

Justified measures an SPS measure must not discriminate arbitrarily or unjustifiably between countries where identical or similar conditions exist an SPS measure must not be more trade restrictive than necessary to achieve the importing country's level of protection taking into account technical and economic feasibility

Provisional measure when there is insufficient scientific evidence to complete a risk assessment, an importing country may impose a provisional measure based on available information additional information must be sought to allow a more objective assessment and the measure reviewed within a reasonable period of time

Other provisions disease/pest free areas equivalence zoning / compartmentatisation equivalence different health measures may provide the same level of protection need to demonstrate objectively easier if measures based on OIE standards prior notification except in emergencies, countries are required to give at least 60 days notice of new regulations and to seek comments

SPS Committee forum for all WTO members to discuss specific trade concerns to monitor use of international standards to develop procedures and guidelines to help Members to coordinate work with other international organisations three meetings each year in Geneva decisions by consensus

Responsibilities of importing country measures should comply with the national level of protection for animal and human health should not provide a higher level of protection on imports than that provided for the same diseases by measures applied within that country or zone should not impose measures against diseases present in the importing country and not subject to any official control programme should not impose measures against diseases which are not OIE listed, unless the importing country has identified a significant risk, on the basis of an import risk analysis

Responsibilities of exporting country should provide information on relevant regulations and official procedures should provide details of the country's ability to apply measures to control / prevent diseases should provide up to date and accurate information on the animal health situation, based on official surveillance systems

Responsibilities of exporting country should provide details of the Veterinary Services and the authority exercised including re certifying vets training, defining functions / duties authorisation / de-authorisation monitoring to verify integrity and impartiality

Responsibilities after disease incident international trade involves a continuing ethical responsibility exporting country has obligation to notify importing country if, soon after an export, it becomes aware of the appearance of a disease which had been certified to allow the importing country to take appropriate action importing country has obligation to notify exporting country if a disease appears in imported stock within a short time period after importation may be the first information on occurrence in a previously free herd / zone

World organisation for animal health 12 rue de Prony 75017 Paris, France Tel: 33 (0)1 44 15 18 88 Fax: 33 (0)1 42 67 09 87 Email: oie@oie.int http://www.oie.int