International Animal Welfare Standard Setting 5th Pan Commonwealth Veterinary Conference Accra, Ghana 21-25 March 2011 International Animal Welfare Standard Setting Lea Knopf, Alex Thiermann & Mariela Varas OIE Headquarters, Paris France

The ‘3 Sisters’ & the SPS Agreement CODEX food safety OIE animal health including zoonoses IPPC plant health 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. Standards, guidelines and recommendations specifically recognised in the SPS Agreement as the references for international trade

Differences: Standard setting for Animal Welfare In 2002 Members approached OIE to come up with guidelines of Animal Welfare (AW) as a component of its existing mandate of standard setting in Animal Health under the SPS agreement Standards on Animal Welfare are NOT linked to the SPS agreement of WTO Rely on sole commitment of OIE Members Democratically adopted by OIE Members Veterinary Services are responsible for implementation Comments (with copyright) / Commentaires (soumis au Copyright) : Insérer quelques informations sur chacune des commissions

Setting and updating international standards Committee, Commissions, Delegates Setting and updating international standards Request Ad hoc group of experts Comments Updated text Codes / Manuals Draft text Adopted Specialist Commission (meets twice a year) General Session May (meets in May each year) OIE Members Report & texts OIE Members for comments text for adoption

OIE Specialist Commissions and Standards Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission "Code Commission" Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission "Aquatic Animals Commission" Biological Standards Commission "Laboratories Commission" Comments (with copyright) / Commentaires (soumis au Copyright) : Insérer quelques informations sur chacune des commissions

Use of OIE standards Private sector Veterinary services In bilateral discussions between trading partners to establish international trade Measures As domestic government policy Private sector As guidelines for private sector & company veterinarians

Evolution of the OIE animal welfare agenda 2000: Animal welfare recognised as a strategic priority in the 3rd OIE Strategic Plan 2001- 2005; 2002: Adoption by the World Assembly of OIE Delegates of a Resolution leading to the creation of a permanent Working Group (Animal Welfare WG) 2003: Adoption of the general principles 2004: First Global Conference on Animal Welfare, Paris 2004

Evolution of the OIE animal welfare agenda 2005: Adoption of the first Animal Welfare Standards: Transport of animals by land Transport of animals by sea Transport of animals by air (refinement) Slaughter of animals for human consumption Killing of animals for disease control purposes 2008: 2nd OIE Global Conference on AW (Cairo, Egypt) 2009: Adoption of additional standards: The control of stray dog populations The welfare of farmed fish during transport

Evolution of the OIE animal welfare agenda 2009: First meetings of the ad hoc Groups on AW & livestock production systems (beef cattle and broiler chickens) 2010: Adoption of new standards: Welfare aspects of stunning and killing of farmed fish for human consumption Use of animals for research and education 2011: Adoption of OIE’s new Strategic Plan (2011-2015): Animal health is a key component of AW OIE is recognised globally as the leader in setting international AW standards

Available standards on animal welfare Terrestrial Animal Health Code Introduction to the recommendations for animal welfare Transport of animals by land Transport of animals by sea Transport of animals by air Slaughter of animals for human consumption Killing of animals for disease control purposes Control of stray dog populations. Use of animals in research and education

Available standards on animal welfare Aquatic Animal Health Code Introduction to recommendations for the welfare of farmed fish Welfare of farmed fish during transport Welfare aspects of stunning and killing of farmed fish for human consumption

Support to OIE Members Strengthening of Good Governance of Veterinary Services: Regular training of OIE Delegates Establishment and repeated trainings of national Focal Points on Animal Welfare in each OIE Member country OIE Collaborating Centres on AW OIE twinning initiative => enhance technical capacity in the regions Support for revisions of (AW) legislation

supporting the tasks of each OIE Delegate OIE focal points – supporting the tasks of each OIE Delegate 6 national specialist focal points: aquatic animal diseases wildlife sanitary information systems veterinary medicinal products animal welfare disease information Unique global network receiving permanent capacity building input from the OIE AW networks within country Dialogue between authorities Technical support to VS and OIE Delegate on AW

Outlook Maintain and strengthen existing procedures for updating and creating international standards including broad consultation of industry, NGOs etc Cross-referencing AW standards with disease-specific Chapters of teh Terrestrial Code (e.g. rabies, AHS) Increase involvement of scientific community and understanding of regional issues through OIE Collaborating Centres on AW Europe (Italy) Asia Pacific (New Zealand/Australia) Americas (Chile/Uruguay) Plans of engagement in the OIE twinning to enhance AW expertise in other regions Negociations between IATA and OIE (transport by air)

Future work and topics Follow up the Recommendations of the 2nd OIE Global Conference on Animal Welfare, prepare the 3rd one! Specific topics: Chapter on Broilers chicken production system Chapter on Beef Cattle production system Future work on Dairy Cattle Production System Welfare of Working Animals Disaster Management (both, animal disease control and welfare)

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