1. 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

2. 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. 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

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

5. 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…)

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.[...]

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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).

21. Thank you for your attention!