1. Patricia Pozzetti Standard Department OIE Headquarters - Paris
Animal health disease status – official status and self-declaration
Regional Workshop on “OIE Standards - Facilitating Safe International Trade”
Dubai, UAE
March 2017

2. Outlines
History and current situation of the official recognitions and self-declarations
Official recognition vs self-declaration
Procedure for official recognition
Procedure for self-declaration

3. Main objectives
Protect animal and human health in international trade,
Increase economic potentiality of the livestock sector,
Facilitate trade,
Guarantees to trading partners,
Long term perspective documented and updated evidence on the disease free situation,
Veterinary Services meet baseline requirements concerning disease control and trade activities.
In May 1994, the World Assembly of Delegates of the OIE requested the Foot and Mouth Disease and Other Epizootics Commission (re-named later as Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases) to develop a procedure for the official recognition by the OIE of the foot and mouth disease (FMD) free status of Member Countries. The procedure has since then been expanded to include the official recognition of disease status for African horse sickness (AHS), classical swine fever (CSF), contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk status as well as the endorsement of official control programmes for CBPP, FMD and PPR.

4. OIE official recognition of disease status
HISTORICAL
1994
• Requested by the World Assembly
• Voluntary-based procedure
• Certain diseases
• Mandate given to the Scientific Commission
• Recognition by the World Assembly
1995
Adoption of the procedure for FMD official recognition
1996
Adoption of the 1st list of Member Countries and zone free from FMD without vaccination
As we will see in the next slides, in response to a demand from member countries in 1994
This procedure of official recognition by the OIE of disease status goes back to May 1994, when the World Assembly of Delegates of the OIE requested the Foot and Mouth Disease and Other Epizootics Commission (now called the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases) to develop a procedure for the official recognition by the OIE of the foot and mouth disease free status of Member Countries. The procedure has since been expanded to include 1) rinderpest, 2) contagious bovine pleuropneumonia - CBPP, 3) bovine spongiform encephalopathy - BSE, 4) African horse sickness - AHS, 5) peste des petits ruminants - PPR and 6) classical swine fever. - CSF
In 1998, the official agreement between the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the OIE further confirmed the OIE’s mandate to recognise disease and pest-free areas for trade purposes, in the context of the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures SPS.
By acquiring and maintaining its official status, a country demonstrates transparency and helps to promote animal health and public health worldwide, thereby gaining the trust of its trade partners, neighbouring countries and the international community as a whole.

5. OIE official recognition of disease status
FMD
(Foot and Mouth Disease)
1996 RP
(Rinderpest)
2000
CBPP
(Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia)
2003
BSE
(Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy)
2004
AHS
(African Horse Sickness)
2013
PPR
(Peste des Petits Ruminants)
2014
CSF
(Classical Swine Fever)
2015

6. FMD World Official Status
67 countries free without vaccination
13 countries free zone without vaccination
8 countries free zones with vaccination
67 countries free without vaccination – Brunei, Cyprus
13 countries free zone without vaccination;
8 countries free zones with vaccination - Turkey

7. CBPP World Official Status
14 Member Countries recognised as free from CBPP

8. 53 Member Countries recognised as free from PPR
PPR - World Official Status
53 Member Countries recognised as free from PPR

9. AHS – World Official Status
Turkmenistan
Lebanon
Iraq
Afghanistan
Iran
71 Member Countries recognised as free from AHS
Israel
Jordan
Pakistan
Libya
Bahrain
Egypt
Saudi Arabia
Cyprus
Kuwait
Oman
Qatar
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
Sudan
Eritrea
Yemen
Ethiopia
Djibouti

10. ASF AI
CSF
Rabies
Sw. Ves. Dis.

12. Outlines
History and current situation of the procedure for official recognitions and self-declarations
Official recognition vs self-declaration
Procedure for official recognition
The official recognition of disease status of Member Countries is of great significance for international trade and constitutes one of the most important legal links between the OIE and World Trade Organization (WTO), in the framework of the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement), which entered into force in In 1998, the official agreement between WTO and the OIE further confirmed the OIE’s mandate to recognise disease-and pest-free areas based on the SPS Agreement.
Procedure for self-declaration

13. The Procedure: Based in the Codes
Terrestrial Animal Health Code
Aquatic Animal Health Code

14. The Procedure
A voluntary procedure developed on Member Countries’ request to facilitate trade
Resolutions adopted by the World Assembly
Compiled in a single document: the SOPs
Updated when relevant
Available on line in the three OIE official languages
A country may either lose or enhance its commercial attractiveness in the eyes of potential or existing importing partners, depending on official recognition of its disease status. By acquiring and maintaining its official status, a country also demonstrates transparency and helps to promote animal health and public health worldwide, thereby gaining the trust of its partners and of the international community.
Granting, suspension and recovery of official disease status are handled in an objective and transparent manner, governed by the Standard Operating Procedures.
to assist Member Countries wishing to apply for the official recognition of a specific disease status or risk status for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or for the endorsement of a national official control programme. The SOP are based on the relevant provisions of the Terrestrial Animal Health
Code (hereafter Terrestrial Code) and the relevant Resolutions adopted by the OIE World Assembly of Delegates (hereafter World Assembly) and serve as a single document of reference to facilitate the understanding of the OIE Delegates on the applicable procedures. The SOP currently apply to the
official recognition of disease status for African horse sickness (AHS), classical swine fever (CSF), contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), foot and mouth disease (FMD), peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and for BSE risk status as provided for in Chapter 1.6. of the Terrestrial Code. As regards
rinderpest, further recognition of disease status is not taking place following the global eradication of the disease in These SOP also apply to the endorsement of a national official control programme for CBPP, FMD and PPR by the OIE in accordance with the provisions laid out in Chapters 11.7., 8.7.
and as well as in Chapter 1.6. of the Terrestrial Code.

15. Submission of an application
OIE calendar meetings:
Cycle from a General Session to the following one
Letter from the DG after each General Session
2 months days before the meeting of the ad hoc Group
May
June
July
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
March
Apr
May
2 months
60 days GS GS
Deadline of
submission of application
SCAD meeting
Submission of an application
An OIE Member Country wishing to submit an application (dossier) for official recognition of its disease status or its BSE risk status or for endorsement of its national official control programme should take careful note of the OIE calendar of meetings. To this end, a letter is sent by the Director General
after each General Session to inform the Delegates of Member Countries of the dates of the scheduled ad hoc Group meetings dedicated to official recognition of disease status or BSE risk status and endorsement of national official control programmes. The OIE work programme cycle runs from May
to May, of which the General Sessions of the World Assembly are the starting and ending points. The meetings of the ad hoc Groups responsible for the official recognition of disease status, BSE risk status or for the endorsement of a national official control programme are usually held between the first
(August/September) and the second (February) meeting of the Scientific Commission in this cycle. Depending on the number of dossiers received, one or more meetings of the relevant ad hoc Group could be scheduled between two General Sessions.
Announcement of the dates through and official letter from OIE HQs
Ad hoc Group meetings
Letters sent to applicant Member Countries and to all Delegates

16. Procedure for official recognition
Voluntary applications - OIE Member Countries
OIE Headquarters
OIE ad hoc Groups
OIE Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases
The OIE Headquarters (Scientific and Technical Department) conducts a preliminary screening of the dossier. If an information gap is identified, the OIE Headquarters may request the submission of an amended dossier or additional information before the set deadline.
OIE Director General

17. Communication on the outcome
Letter from the DG to the applicant countries
Positive outcome
Assessment published in the Scientific Commission report
Letter to all Delegates
60-day period
World Assembly
Negative outcome
Assessment kept confidential
Provided in the outcome letter to the applicant country
Pending a mission

18. Official recognition - World Assembly
by adoption of a Resolution

19. Publication

20. Reminders of importance
Historical freedom : Dossier + surveillance in accordance with Article Deadlines for submission Similar procedure for the endorsement of a control programme

21. Summary Voluntary procedure Based on OIE standards
Procedure under the responsibility of the OIE Director General
Assessment under the mandate of the Scientific Commission
Status for FMD, CBPP, AHS, PPR, CSF and BSE risk
Endorsement of programmes for CBPP, FMD and PPR

22. Available on the OIE website Sub-Regional Representatives
For more information
The workshops
1 organised in 2016 (SADC)
2 planned for the other African countries in 2017
Focus: PPR and FMD
The SOPs
Available on the OIE website
OIE Status Department
OIE Regional and
Sub-Regional Representatives

23. Annual reconfirmation
In accordance with the Terrestrial Animal Health Code
In accordance with the Terrestrial Animal Health Code
Web-based tool
In accordance with Resolution 15 of the 83rd General Session
In accordance with Resolution 15 of the 83rd General Session
In accordance with Resolution 15 of the 83rd General Session
Support from the OIE Regional and Sub-Regional Representations
Support from the OIE Regional and Sub-Regional Representations
November every year
November every year
November every year
Additional information requested
Additional information requested
Additional information requested

24. On-line system for annual reconfirmation
Accessible via the Delegate’s username and password (same as WAHIS access)

25. Specific and updated forms also available on the OIE website and on the Delegate website

26. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Do not only tick the boxes
is requested
In accordance with the Terrestrial Code,
surveillance
regulatory measures
system for preventing the entry of FMDV
control of the movement of susceptible animals & products
To ensure long-term maintenance
Do not only tick the boxes

27. Outlines
History and current situation of the procedure for official recognitions and self-declarations
Official recognition vs self-declaration
Procedure for official recognition
Procedure for self-declaration

28. Procedure for self-declaration
Freedom of a country, zone or compartment
From an OIE listed disease,
No OIE official recognition
Based on the requirements
of the Terrestrial and Aquatic
Animal Health Codes
Self-declaration regarding the disease status of a country or zone.
In the case of self-declaration, the OIE Delegates are advised to consult the Terrestrial Animal Health Code or the Aquatic Animal Health Code to verify whether specific requirements for self-declaration of freedom from that particular disease are available.
By providing the relevant epidemiological evidence, the OIE Member Country can prove to a potential importing country that the entire country or a zone under discussion, meet the provisions of the specific disease chapter.
Any self-declaration should be based on sound evidence demonstrating that the requirements for the disease status have been met in accordance with the OIE standards.
The self-declaration, signed by the OIE Delegate of the OIE Member Country concerned, is submitted to the OIE Headquarters with the data that conform to the requirements in the relevant Chapters of the Terrestrial or Aquatic Codes, as appropriate.
Upon request of the OIE Delegate, a self-declaration may be published entirely or summarized in the OIE Bulletin for information of all OIE Member Countries. All self-declarations published by the OIE can be viewed by browsing the OIE Bulletins online.
Self-declaration is made under the full responsibility of the Member Country concerned. The OIE is not responsible for inaccuracies in self-declarations concerning the status of a country or a zone nor for subsequent changes in the status.

29. OIE publication of the claim in the
except for the 6 diseases for which an official recognition may be granted Publication does not imply endorsement of the claim.