1. Objectives and Expectations
Dr. Bernard Vallat
Director General of the OIE
Keynote address
Objectives and Expectations
OIE Global Conference on Veterinary Legislation
Djerba, Tunisia, 7 December 2010

2. Contents Introduction
Background, OIE 5th Strategic Plan and current initiatives
Veterinary Legislation – a key element in the OIE PVS Pathway
Objectives & expectations

3. 5th OIE Strategic Plan (2011-2015)
Animal Health systems are a global public good
Global public goods are goods whose benefits extend to all countries, people and generations
One World-One Health (OWOH)
A global strategy for cooperation in managing risks at the animal-human interface
Relation between animal health, animal production and the environment
Need to gain a clearer understanding of the link between animals and the environment.

4. 5th Strategic Plan: Key concepts
Food Security & Food Safety
Need for a global supply of safe food
Food security, including animal protein, is a key public health concern
Healthy animals ensure food security and food safety
Veterinary Services play a key role in protecting society
Animal welfare: a OIE strategic engagement
Animal health is a key component of animal welfare
OIE is recognised globally as the leader in setting international animal welfare standards

5. 5th Strategic Plan: Key concepts
Veterinary education
The quality of veterinarians is essential for protection of society
Recognition of veterinary diploma and professional excellence
OIE Global Conference on Veterinary Education (and follow up)
Good Governance of Veterinary Services
Need for appropriate legislation and implementation through national animal health systems
A responsibility of Government
Alliances between public and private sectors (farmers, consumers)
Quality of Services: use of OIE PVS evaluation and PVS Gap Analysis tools
Initial and ongoing veterinary education

6. Trends in animal protein consumption
Shift from poverty to middle-class (+1 billion people expected)
Increase in the number of daily meals
Some projections for 2030 indicate that the demand for animal proteins, in particular milk and eggs, will increase by 50%, especially in developing countries

7. Veterinary Services in today’s world
Pathogens are transported around the
world faster than the average
incubation time of most epizootics.
Climate change and human behaviour
allow colonisation of new territories by
vectors and pathogens
e.g …
bluetongue in Europe; H5N1 avian influenza; west Nile fever in the USA

8. Zoonotic potential of animal pathogens
60% of human pathogens are zoonotic
75% of emerging diseases are zoonotic
80% of agents with a potential use in bioterrorism are zoonotic pathogens

9. Food security, food safety and public health
1 billion poor people depend on livestock for survival
The impact of animal diseases on animal production losses worldwide exceeds 20%
Animal health, food security, public health are linked
Animal protein is crucial for human health and welfare
Given the rising demand for protein, animal production must be intensified globally
Threats include globalisation, climate change and bioterrorism
The veterinary profession must be ready!

10. The ‘Global Public Good’ Concept
In relation to the control and eradication of infectious diseases, the benefits are international and inter­generational in scope.
Countries depend on each other
Animal health systems are not a commercial nor a strictly agricultural good. They are fully eligible for national and global public resources
Failure of one country may endanger the entire planet

11. Good Governance – for all countries
Need for appropriate legislation and its efficient implementation through appropriate human and financial resources allowing national animal health systems to provide for:
Appropriate surveillance, early detection, transparency
Rapid response to animal disease outbreaks
Biosecurity measures
Compensation
Vaccination when appropriate
Deregulation and lack of resources for veterinary services can be a source of biological disasters

12. Veterinary Legislation
A crucial element of the Veterinary Services’ infrastructure
Not updated for many years in many OIE Members
Inadequate in structure and content for the challenges facing VS in today’s world
the OIE provides assistance to Members via the Global Veterinary Legislation Initiative, part of the
OIE PVS Pathway for efficient Veterinary Services 12 12

13. The PVS Pathway « treatment » OIE PVS Pathway for efficient
Veterinary Services
OIE collaborates with governments,
stakeholders and donors (if needed)
The PVS Pathway
« treatment »
Veterinary Services
Strategic Plan
Modernisation
of legislation
Public/private
Partnerships
Evaluation
PVS
« diagnosis »
Gap Analysis
« prescription»
Follow-Up
Evaluation mission
Country / Donors
Investment / Projects
Veterinary
Education
Laboratories

14. PVS Evaluation Mission - ‘diagnostic step’
External independent evaluation (objectivity)
Experts trained and certified by the OIE
Based on facts & evidence, not impressions
Upon request of the country (voluntary basis)
To assess:
Compliance with OIE standards
Strengths / Weaknesses
Gaps / areas for improvement
Peer reviewed
Recognised by international donors
Not an audit
Country property (confidentiality of results)

15. The global diagnostic Insufficient national chain of command
Weakness of private sector organizations
Few compensation mechanisms
Limited ability to control livestock movements
Constraints to implement biosecurity measures
Difficulty of implementing appropriate vaccination
Failures in the control of veterinary drugs threaten human health, market access and the development of private sector veterinary services

16. The global diagnostic
Competition with other priority sectors for national and international resources
Weaknesses of national Veterinary Services (legislation, human and financial resources)
Veterinary services need to improve their ability to present financial information and cost/benefit arguments to support their missions
Veterinary initial and continuing education programmes do not comply with the global needs.

17. PVS Evaluation missions State of play – 01/12/2010
OIE Regions
OIE Members
PVS Requests received
PVS Missions done
Reports available
Africa 52 46 43 33
Americas 29 21 19 15
Asia & Pacific 31 16 14 11
Europe 53 13 12 9
Middle East 4
Total
177
108 99 72 17

18. OIE Assistance on Veterinary Legislation
There is no model – each country is sovereign
Country PVS report available (important condition)
Official country request to the OIE
OIE proposal to the country for an initial mission (identification of needs and context)
Technical Assistance Convention with the country
OIE preparatory questionnaire sent to the country
Creation of national Veterinary Legislation Task Force
Country work linked with OIE experts

19. OIE support under an MOU
A 1 year or 2 year programme for legislative renewal, with ongoing support by an OIE expert.
Strong interest in this option
The OIE, through an experienced and qualified expert, provides technical advice – but legislative renewal can only be achieved by technical experts and legal advisors of the country
with full support from decision makers in government

20. Veterinary Legislation Identification Mission State of play – 01/12/2010
OIE Regions
OIE Members
Legislation Requests received
Legislation Missions done
Africa 52 16 8
Americas 29 2
Asia & Pacific 31 3
Europe 53 1
Middle East 12 4
Total
177 28 17 20

21. OIE Technical Guidelines on Veterinary Legislation
The technical guidelines will be used to update the legislation where gaps are identified in the course of an OIE PVS Evaluation
20Leg.pdf
The Terrestrial Code Commission will propose to incorporate them as standards in 2011.

22. OIE Technical Guidelines on Veterinary Legislation
Separation between the legislative and the regulatory domain
The authority of VS to enter livestock premises and other relevant establishments and take the actions needed for early detection, reporting and rapid and effective management of any animal diseases
Give VS the necessary authority to perform them efficiently and effectively

23. OIE Technical Guidelines on Veterinary Legislation
Appropriate basis for communication between VS and other governmental bodies and provide a framework for joint activities
for on farm issues, including zoonoses, veterinarians must always be in the front line but do not act in isolation.
Cooperation between stakeholders (private sector veterinarians, livestock producers and processors)
Framework for stakeholder cooperation and partnership
definition of the roles and responsibilities
rights and obligations of all responsible parties.

24. A stronger collaboration between WHO, FAO and OIE
Sharing responsibilities and coordinating global activities to address health risks at the animal-human-ecosystems interfaces 24

25. Communication
Communication with consumers: a key responsibility of Veterinary Services.
Food safety: VS can contribute to managing the risks associated with live animals and their products, i.e. effective risk management.
Animal welfare: information on how livestock are produced, transported and slaughtered.
VS: the key organisation regulating and providing guidance on animal welfare.
Need appropriate regulatory framework and provisions for communication with consumers and NGOs to inform them of government decisions and give them a channel for raising concerns

26. Other elements in the PVS Pathway
Twinning: link between OIE Reference Laboratory or Collaborating Centre (parent) and national laboratory (candidate) with the ultimate goal of becoming an OIE Reference Laboratory or Centre.
Help to build national veterinary scientific community in developing countries
participation of scientists and experts of developing countries (with financial support of the EC)

27. OIE Twinning Initiative
Better global geographical coverage
Regional support
Improved access for more countries (focus on developing and transition countries) to diagnostics and expertise and to participate in OIE standard setting process

28. 190 OIE Ref. Labs., 36 Countries, 101 Diseases, 161 experts,
List of OIE Reference Laboratories:

29. PVS Gap Analysis
To identify specific activities, tasks and resources required to address “gaps” identified through the country PVS evaluation
To determine and confirm country priorities (country involvement)
Estimation of costs (collaboration with Partners and Donors)
Preparation of an estimated budget
Support to preparation of investment programmes

30. PVS Gap Analysis mission
a PVS Gap Analysis mission facilitates the definition of country’s Veterinary Services’ objectives in terms of compliance with OIE quality standards, suitably adapted to national constraints and priorities.
The country PVS Gap Analysis report includes an indicative operational budget for 5 years and an exceptional budget (necessary investments) when relevant.

31. Using the PVS Gap Analysis
How and what to finance is a sovereign decision of the country
The Country’s Government decides if this is kept for internal use or distributed if necessary to Donors and relevant International Organisations to prepare investment programmes

32. Using the PVS Gap Analysis
In country discussions with the relevant Minister, other Ministries, Ministry of Finance, Prime Minister, Head of State, National Parliament, depending on the context of the country
Round tables, in the country, with Donor Agencies and International Organisations, incl. FAO
Preparation of the country Veterinary Services estimated Budget and of national or international investments

33. Veterinary Education
The quality of veterinary education is not adequate in up to 80% of veterinary education establishments in the world.
Initial & continuing veterinary education is a key tool for global good governance

34. Veterinary Education
Need for harmonisation of basic core curricula towards a global standard
based on a list of ‘day 1 competencies’
Minimum requirements – developed countries may have stricter standards
Quality control and recognition procedures
More involvement of Veterinary Statutory Body

35. Objectives and expectations for the conference
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. 35

36. OIE Objectives (1)
To help national animal health and welfare systems to be ready to address the important threats and challenges of:
Globalisation
Climate change
societal expectation
To explain how compliance with global standards and guidelines can facilitate the needed evolution of Member countries and regional organisations.

37. OIE Objectives (2)
To present the different tools available to OIE Member Countries:
the OIE PVS Pathway and the global capacity building programme
OIE Veterinary Legislation Strengthening Programme, as part of the PVS Pathway
Twinning programme for laboratories and other institutes
OIE Veterinary Education Initiative
promotion of the important role of Veterinary Statutory Bodies

38. OIE Objectives (3)
To continue advocating on behalf of VS, including interactions with OIE Donors and Partners
To argue for significant investment in VS because they are a Global public good
To provide compelling messages for presentation to decision-makers
To provide the tools to help VS to take steps to strengthen the national legislation and thereby improve the efficiency of national VS
To raise awareness of the key importance of quality veterinary education for efficient VS

39. Expectations
Full engagement of all participants, including by taking key consensual messages back to national governments
Increased support from OIE Partners and Donors for the PVS Pathway, including the Veterinary Legislation Support Programme and other initiatives to help Members to be ready to deal with important global new challenges
Increased involvement of Regional Economic Communities with the goal of harmonising legislation at the regional level.

40. Expectations
Increased involvement of Veterinary Statutory Bodies in the regulation of the profession, including closer collaboration with the VS
Renewed emphasis on the importance of initial and continuing veterinary education as a key component of efficient Veterinary Services
Closer collaboration between VS and Ministries responsible for human health, wildlife and the environment
Global endorsement of the OIE approach to global capacity building and twinning programmes.

41. Acknowledgements to:
This conference is co-funded by the European Union and Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
Financial support for participation is also provided by the Organismo Internacional Regional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (OIRSA).
and special thanks to:
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Agriculture And Water Resources of Tunisia

42. Thank you for your attention
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé Animale
World Organisation for Animal Health
Organización Mundial de Sanidad Animal
12 rue de Prony, Paris, France – –