Seminar for National Delegates to the OIE: “Development of public–private partnerships to support Veterinary Services” 10 November 2015, Kaslik (Lebanon) General obligations related to certification and certification procedures (OIE TAHC Chapters 5.1 and 5.2) Dr Xavier Pacholek Regional Representation for the Middle East

Definition Certification = process for assessing compliance which results in a written assurance that a product, a service, a person or an organization meets specified requirements.

3 categories of certification The supplier makes a self-declaration of compliance: First party certification. The client verifies the compliance of the supplier: Second party certification. An independent certification body verifies the compliance: Third party certification

What procedure of certification for international trade of animals and animal products?

Specificities of the sanitary certification Safety in international trade concerns more than the traders but the whole society because trade can disseminate collective hazards (transboundary animal diseases, chemical contaminants...); The specifications are not only technical but refers to global animal and public health which are delt by official authorities; This certification cannot be based on information mastered by a single certifier, but on information issued by the Veterinary Authorities in compliance with international standards (sanitary status…)

Consequence 1 The Veterinary Services being a Global Public Good, the sanitary frame of reference cannot be private This frame must be produced by an internationally recognized entity (sanitary standards)

Consequence 2 The certification impacting public order, the responsibility of the certification can only fall to States both as regards (i) the issuance of the sanitary certificate by the exporter (ii) and its review by the importer Public order Security Peace Safety

Process of sanitary certification Second party certification by the Veterinary Authority of the importing country Third party sanitary certification from the Veterinary Authority of the exporting country

OIE TAHC Article 5.1 General obligations related to certification [...] Because of differences between countries in their animal health situations, various options are offered by the TAHC [...] [...] to maximise harmonisation of the sanitary aspects of international trade, Veterinary Authorities of Member Countries should base their import requirements on the standards of the OIE. These requirements should be included in the model certificates approved by the OIE which are included from Chapters 5.10. to 5.12.[...] Relevance of differing health situations in exporting, importing & in transit countries OIE Standards = frame of reference OIE models of certificates = support for certification

OIE TAHC Article 5.1 General obligations related to certification [...] Certificates should be exact and concise, and should clearly convey the requirements of the importing country. For this purpose, prior consultation between Veterinary Authorities of importing and exporting countries may be necessary. It enables the setting out of the exact requirements. [...] Logic of second party certification = value of consultation between VAs of importing and exporting countries to clarity of the requirements Limitation: should not include conditions for disease not transmitted by the commodity

OIE TAHC Article 5.1.2 Responsibilities of the importing country [...] The import requirements included in the international veterinary certificate should assure that commodities introduced into the importing country comply with the standards of the OIE. Importing countries should align their requirements with the recommendations in the relevant standards of the OIE. [...] Compliance with OIE standards to meet national appropriate level of protection or base stricter standards on a risk analysis

OIE TAHC Article 5.1.2 Responsibilities of the importing country Limitations to the requirements: Excludes requirements for diseases not present or applying a higher level of protection than that which exists Excludes conditions for pathogens/diseases non OIE listed unless risk is demonstrated by a risk analysis VAs should share certificates / communications with VAs Private sector veterinarians can certify with approval / authentication by VA

OIE TAHC Article 5.1.3 Responsibilities of the exporting country Should provide disease, technical, regulatory & organisational information Should have procedures for authorising certifying veterinarians and monitoring integrity and impartiality VA accountable for international certification used in trade

OIE TAHC Article 5.1.4 Responsibilities in case of an incident related to importation Notifying importing countries of problems discovered subsequent to export Notifying the exporting country if a disease/problem is encountered post-arrival Fraudulent practices, investigations and control

OIE TAHC Article 5.2.1. Protection of the professional integrity of the certifying veterinarian [...] Certification should be based on the highest possible ethical standards, the most important of which is that the professional integrity of the certifying veterinarian should be respected and safeguarded in accordance with Chapters 3.1. and 3.2.[...]

OIE TAHC Article 5.2.2. Certifying veterinarians Certifying veterinarians should : [...] be authorised by the Veterinary Authority of the exporting country to sign international veterinary certificates; [...] The certifying veterinarian must have the authority Can act only with the authorization of the VA No restriction on his status: public or private with a delegation.

OIE TAHC Article 5.2.2. Certifying veterinarians Certifying veterinarians should: [...] only certify matters that are within their own knowledge at the time of signing the certificate, or that have been separately attested by another competent party; [...] The certifying veterinarian signs only facts he knows or which have been attested separately by another competent party such as: the laboratory tests which imply the control of the sampling system and the official recognition of the public or private laboratories; the health status of the livestock, the region or the country which can only be established by the Veterinary Authority ... provided an efficient disease surveillance and disease reporting ... with the participation of the private sector.

OIE TAHC Article 5.2.2. Certifying veterinarians Certifying veterinarians should: [...] have no conflict of interest in the commercial aspects of the animals or animal products being certified and be independent from the commercial parties. To avoid any conflict of interest: the certifier should not be directly paid by the beneficiary, fees should only be received by the Veterinary Authority and not by the certifiying veterinarian, payments must be independent from conclusions.

OIE TAHC Article 5.2.3. Preparation of international veterinary certificates [...] Paper certificates should bear the signature of the certifying veterinarian and the official identifier (stamp) of the issuing Veterinary Authority. [...] The veterinary certificate is issued by the Veterinary Authority. The certifying veterinarian may act only under the control of the Veterinay Authority in the framework of a delegation. Certification can not be a private act but it can be performed by a private veterinarian as part of a delegation from the Veterinary Authority.

Conclusion Certification is a chain of trust, is the responsibility of States, should be performed by veterinarians authorized by the VA, should combine public and private sectors at several levels: negotiation of the standards, knowledge of the epidemiological situation, certification itself through the participation of the certifying veterinarians, laboratories (accreditation).

Thank you for your attention!