1. World Organisation for Animal Health

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

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

4. Role and structure of the OIE

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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 :
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.

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. International trade context

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

17. 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)

18. 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

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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. World organisation for animal health
12 rue de Prony
75017 Paris, France
Tel: 33 (0)
Fax: 33 (0)