OIE Expertise Gastón Funes Head, Regional Activities Department Training Seminar for OIE Delegates from Europe Lyons, 5-6 November 2009 Gastón Funes Head, Regional Activities Department

Topics of the presentation Specialist Commissions Working Groups Ad Hoc Groups Reference Laboratories Collaborating Centres Laboratories Twinning procedure OFFLU 2

OIE Specialist Commissions The Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission ("Code Commission") The Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases ("Scientific Commission") (“SCAD”) The Biological Standards Commission ("Laboratories Commission") Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission (“Aquatic Animals Commission”) 3

OIE Specialist Commissions Members of the Commissions (from all OIE regions), are elected by the International Committee for a period of three years Their role: to use scientific information to study problems of prevention and control of animal diseases, to develop and revise OIE's international standards, to address scientific issues raised by OIE Members, 4

Code Commission (1/2) http://www.oie.int/tahsc/eng/en_tahsc.htm ensures that the Terrestrial Code reflects current scientific information, president, vice-president, general secretary + 3 members (experienced in regulatory veterinary science drawn), meets several times yearly to address its work programme, works with internationally renowned specialists to prepare draft texts for new articles of the Terrestrial Code and to revise existing articles, 5

Code Commission (2/2) collaborates closely with the Aquatic Animal Commission on issues needing a harmonised approach, supported by the Biological Standards Commission and the SCAD to ensure the Code Commission is utilising the latest scientific information in its work, seeks the views of OIE Delegates through the circulation of draft and revised texts (which are adopted at each General Session as OIE standards), 6

Scientific Commission (SCAD) http://www.oie.int/scad/eng/en_scad.htm President, vice-president, general secretary + 2 specialised members (world renowned scientist), assists in identifying the most appropriate strategies and measures for disease prevention and control, examines OIE Member applications regarding their animal health status for certain diseases (OIE official recognition for FMD, BSE, Rinerpest, CBPP), provides up-to-date scientific information to the Director General and the other Specialist Commissions, in consultation with scientists, experts and Ad hoc Groups, meets several times yearly, 7

Laboratories Commission http://www.oie.int/bsc/eng/en_bsc.htm President, vice-president and 2 specialised members, establishes or approves methods for diagnosing diseases and for testing biological products, such as vaccines, used for control purposes and for international trade of terrestrial animals, edits and oversees the production of the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals (the" Manual"), selects OIE Ref Labs for disease of terrestrial animals, and facilitates and works with the network of Ref Labs and Collaborating Centres to achieve OIE’s mandate, promotes preparation and distribution of standard reagents for diagnostic testing, 8

Aquatic Animals Commission http://www.oie.int/aac/eng/en_fdc.htm President, vice-president, general secretary + 2 specialised members compiles information on diseases of fish, molluscs and crustaceans, analyses and establishes methods for controling aquactic animal diseases, produces the Aquatic Code and the Aquatic Manual , organises scientific meetings on relevant topics for aquaculture, works in collaboration with the Code Commission on issues needing a harmonised approach, 9

Topics of the presentation Specialist Commissions Working Groups Ad Hoc Groups Reference Laboratories Collaborating Centres Laboratories Twinning procedure OFFLU 10

OIE Working Groups OIE permanent Working Groups are responsible for reviewing developments in their fields, and for keeping OIE Members informed of current issues through scientific meetings or seminars, Three Working Groups are currently operating: Working Group on Wildlife diseases Working Group on Animal Welfare Working Group on Food Safety 11

OIE Working Groups formed by decision of the Committee (recommendation by the DG) including a president, a rapporteur and a maximum of six members, members nominated by the DG for 3 years (renewable), established for an indefinite period in order to cover the technical or scientific topic specified at their establishment. Role: collect, analyse, disseminate and assess progress in knowledge within the sphere of their competence, inform the DG of their results in order to resolve problems from OIE Members, The Group may be asked to report to the Committee 12

OIE Working Group on Animal Welfare Already developed standards on: - land, sea and air transport, - slaughter for human consumption, - killing for disease control purpose, At this time the Group is working on: - the control of stray dog populations, - laboratory animal welfare, - animal welfare and livestock production systems,

OIE Working Group on Food Safety Work programme taking account of food safety priorities and work of relevant international organisations (Codex) Antimicrobial resistance, Role and function of VS in food safety, Food borne zoonoses, Certification, Biotechnology – animals and products, Good Farming Practices, (Guidelines in cooperation with FAO) Animal feeding, Animal identification and traceability, 14

OIE Working Group on Wildlife diseases informs and advises the OIE on all health problems relating to wild animals (in the wild or in captivity), has prepared general recommendations on the surveillance and control of the most important specific wildlife diseases, oversees relevant scientific publications, new approach, specific recommendations for relevant chapters of the Code, lower level more specific 15

Topics of the presentation Specialist Commissions Working Groups Ad Hoc Groups Reference Laboratories Collaborating Centres Laboratories Twinning procedure OFFLU 16

OIE Ad Hoc Groups are convened as required by the Director General of the OIE to examine specific scientific and technical issues, comprising leading specialists from OIE Members, their reports serve as guides for the Specialist Commissions and the International Committee in forming recommendations and making decisions, Official disease status recognition (FMD, BSE, Rinderpest), Evaluation of Veterinary Services, Validation of diagnostic assays, Traceability and animal identification, Others… 17

Topics of the presentation Specialist Commissions Working Groups Ad Hoc Groups Reference Laboratories Collaborating Centres Laboratories Twinning procedure OFFLU 18

OIE Reference Laboratories http://www. oie designated to pursue all the scientific problems relating to specific named disease(s) on the OIE list, functioning as a centre of expertise, providing technical assistance on surveillance/control of such disease(s): standardise the diagnostic techniques, store and distribute to national labs, biological reference products / reagents, develop new procedures for diagnosis / control of such disease(s), gather, analyse and disseminate epizootiological relevant data, place expert consultants at the disposal of the OIE, provide training and diagnostic facilities to OIE Members, inform the OIE Delegate and OIE HQs when confirming positive results for diseases that are notifiable to OIE, organise scientific meetings on behalf of the Organisation, coordinate scientific studies, and publish any information which may be useful to OIE Members, 19

177 OIE Ref. Labs., 32 Countries, 95 Diseases, 154 experts, List of OIE Reference Laboratories: http://www.oie.int/eng/OIE/organisation/en_listeLR.htm

Topics of the presentation Specialist Commissions Working Groups Ad Hoc Groups Reference Laboratories Collaborating Centres Laboratories Twinning procedure OFFLU 21

OIE Collaborating Centres (CCs) http://www. oie centres of expertise in a specific designated sphere of competence relating to general matters on animal health (epidemiology, risk analysis, training of official vets, etc.), in its designated field of competence, they must provide their expertise internationally by: operating as a centre of research, standardisation and dissemination of techniques for controling animal diseases, placing expert consultants at the disposal of the OIE, providing technical training to personnel from OIE Members, organising scientific meetings on behalf of the OIE, coordinating scientific and technical studies, and publishing any information in their competence which may be useful to OIE Members. 22

29 Collaborating Centres, 18 Countries, 27 Topics, 29 experts, List of OIE CCs: http://www.oie.int/eng/OIE/organisation/en_listeCC.htm

OIE Ref Labs & CCs: Application Procedure Delegate APPLICATION* OIE Director General OIE Administrative Commission *Specific Information required CONSULTATION ENDORSEMENT For CCs Reg Commission Specialised Commission (Labs., Aquat., SCAD) International Committee APPROVAL After approval: Notification letter from the OIE DG to the Director of the CC. Brief annual report of activities (distributed to all OIE Members). Designation CC valid for four years, (OIE DG may propose renewal to the Committee). 24

Topics of the presentation Specialist Commissions Working Groups Ad Hoc Groups Reference Laboratories Collaborating Centres Laboratories Twinning procedure OFFLU 25

OIE Laboratory Twinning Process 26

Each Twinning Project.. Is a link between OIE Reference laboratory or Collaborating Centre (Parent) and national laboratory (Candidate). Aims to improve expertise and diagnostic capacity with eventual aim of providing support within the region and reaching OIE standards. Must be sustainable when twinning arrangement is terminated 27

Countries with six or more OIE Reference Laboratories Country Number of Reference Laboratories Australia 8 Canada 15 France 16 Germany 12 Italy 9 Japan 13 South Africa 6 United Kingdom 30 United States of America 25 28

Extending the network of OIE capacity, expertise and standards through Twinning To provide better global geographical coverage. To provide regional support. need for a new approach to international spread of diseases Improved access for more countries to high quality diagnostics and expertise. for negotiations, certifications, justification of standard setting To provide better coverage in developing and transition countries. + 70% of the 172 OIE Members: developing/transitional countries 29

Expertise to allow members to Readily apply guidelines and standards of OIE. To develop science-based policies. Debate OIE scientific justification for standards on an equal footing with other Members (better representation). 30

Twinning Guide and Project Template/Contract http://www.oie.int/downld/LABREF/A_Guide.pdf Background How to apply/proposal Basic project management Project plan (objectives, stages) Regular monitoring Facilitates efficient applications Formalises agreement 31

Twinning process OIE REF. LAB APPLICANT LAB ID possible twinning: Labs CVO Reg. office AGREEMENT DISEASE/TOPIC AGREEMENT HEADS OF BOTH LABS OFFICIAL DELEGATES Disease/topic Regional needs Managing expert Budget Work plan Communication Milestones PROJECT PROPOSAL BIOLOGICAL STANDARDS COMMISSION OIE DG S & T DEPT DONOR FUNDING EVALUATION BUDGET

Twinning: Role of players OIE Supports in coordinating the project Funding – OIE WAHW Fund and donor countries Facilitates negotiations Finalises contract and budget OIE Reference Laboratory (Parent laboratory) Driving force Expert from PL is driver/project leader Implemenation/management of budget Candidate laboratory Fully committed Agrees to go all the way with partnership Not a disguise for obtaining funding 33

Twinning: Scope Realistic, achievable goals Variability and flexibility Objectives, subjects Length of project (1-3 years) Some Candidate Laboratories will reach OIE Reference Status 34

Twinning: Current Situation There are currently 11 OIE laboratory twinning projects in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and in Latin America, Most favoured diseases: Avian Influenza, NCD, FMD, Brucellosis 35

Topics of the presentation Specialist Commissions Working Groups Ad Hoc Groups Reference Laboratories Collaborating Centres Laboratories Twinning procedure OFFLU 36

OFFLU is the joint OIE – FAO network of expertise for avian influenza 37

OFFLU Objectives To exchange scientific data and biological materials (including virus strains) within the network, and to share such information with the wider scientific community To offer technical advice and veterinary expertise to OIE and FAO Members to assist in the prevention, diagnosis, surveillance and control of avian influenza To collaborate with the WHO influenza network on issues relating to the animal-human interface, including early preparation of human vaccine To highlight avian influenza research needs, promote their development and ensure co-ordination. 38

The ANIMAL – HUMAN Interface Agreed strategy from the outset: “to tackle avian influenza at source” 39

OFFLU experts and technical activities Steering Committee Executive Committee OFFLU experts and technical activities Secretariat (OIE) OFFLU scientists 40

www.offlu.net

OFFLU Scientists To support and deliver activities of the OFFLU network through interaction with all partners. Encourage sharing within animal health network and expand genomic databases Evaluate and assess available tools and their ability to meet the requirements of OFFLU Support to OFFLU technical groups - flexibility Sequencing and bioinformatics Liaison with human influenza networks 42

OFFLU Technical Activities A group of scientists with relevant expertise: To address specific issues or questions, Activated when an issue or question arises (deactivated when the issue has been addressed), Some involve experts from human health, Improved functionality of OFFLU, Through collaboration strengthens links between experts, Need regional representation, 43

OFFLU Key Achievements 2008 OIE Resolution - Sharing of avian influenza viral material and information in support of global avian influenza prevention and control. Ongoing advice to Indonesia on selection of avian influenza vaccine strains. Practical guidance on minimum bio-safety requirements for handling avian influenza viruses. 8 technical activities identified and initiated. Contribution to establishment of a Unified Nomenclature System for H5N1 influenza viruses based on HA gene phylogeny. 44

Thank you for your attention …questions…? 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, 75017 Paris, France - www.oie.int – oie@oie.int 45