1. World Organisation for Animal Health

2. Bernard Vallat
Director General of the OIE
The OIE network of Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres and OIE International Standards
International Symposium: Animal Disease Control in the 21st. Century,
Friederich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Centre, Greifswald-Insel
Riems, Germany, April 4-6, 2005

3. Objectives
To ensure transparency in the global animal disease and zoonosis situation
To collect, analyse and disseminate scientific veterinary information
Within its mandate under the WTO SPS Agreement, to safeguard world trade by publishing health standards for international trade in animals and animal products
To provide a better guarantee of the safety of food of animal origin and to promote animal welfare through a science-based approach
To provide expertise and encourage international solidarity in the control of animal diseases
To improve the legal framework and resources of national Veterinary Services

4. Convergence model for Emerging Zoonosis
Physical Environmental Factors
Genetic and Biological Factors
Microbe
Social, Political and Economic Factors
Human
Ecological Factors
Convergence Model (Microbial Threats to Health – IOM/NAS, 2003)

5. Factors in emergence Microbial adaptation and change
Host susceptibility to infection
Climate and weather
Changing ecosystems
Economic development and land use
Human demographics and behaviour

6. Factors in emergence (continued)
International travel and commerce – “Globalisation”
Lack of legislation and of appropriate public health policies and resources
Poverty and social inequality
War and famine
Lack of political will
Intent to harm

7. Livestock 2020 – The next food revolution
Global increase and demand for protein and food of animal origin
Shift of 1–2 billion people from poverty to middle class
Economic and social evolution of Asia and Latin America
Concerns with sustainability of production models
Increases in emerging zoonoses through the concentration of people and animals

8. Spectrum of threats Emerging diseases Resurgence of endemic diseases
Appearance of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens
Intentional use of biological agents

9. OIE Information System
OIE Early Warning System based on official information and reports from Member Countries and other Organisations
OIE Reference Laboratories
Active search and verification of non-official information
Improve data quality at the field level
OIE Global Information System

10. OIE Global Information System

11. OIE animal disease notification system
Since 1 January 2005, only one list of notifiable diseases
Criteria for inclusion in the OIE list:
International spread
Significant spread within naïve populations
Zoonotic potential
Emerging diseases (new infection resulting from the evolution of an existing pathogen or parasite resulting in a change of host range, vector, pathogenicity or strain; or the occurrence of a previously unrecognised infection or disease.)

12. Source of Early Warning Disease reports
Reports from Member Countries
Reports from the worldwide network of OIE Reference Laboratories
Active search and tracking of non-official sources, such as scientific publications and ProMed, and lay publications, with Member Country verification
Improved Member Country surveillance
Policies
Internal and international resources

13. Global Early Warning System (GLEWS)
Joint OIE/FAO/WHO initiative
Animal disease and zoonosis tracking
Emergency response
Trends analysis predictions
Capacity building of Veterinary Services for surveillance and early warning and response (animal sector)
List of priority animal diseases, zoonoses and emerging diseases

14. OIE’s WTO mandate SPS objectives and problems to be solved
SPS Agreement recognises OIE as one of three reference organisations for relevant international standards (three sisters)
for food safety, the standards established by Codex Alimentarius
for animal health and zoonoses, the standards adopted by OIE Member Countries
for plant health, the standards developed under the IPPC
SPS objectives and problems to be solved

15. Positive indirect effects of the SPS Agreement
Food production
Alleviation of poverty
Food safety
International market access
Public–Private Sector synergies
Dialogue between medical and veterinary communities

16. OIE Standards Terrestrial Animal Health Code (the Terrestrial Code)
Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals (the Terrestrial Manual)
Aquatic Animal Health Code (the Aquatic Code)
Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (the Aquatic Manual)

17. OIE Codes
Recommend sanitary measures to be used by veterinary or other competent authorities faced with animal diseases, including zoonoses
Establish health regulations to prevent importations of pathogens, including those transmissible to humans, while avoiding unjustified sanitary barriers
Diagnostic methods to be used by laboratories

18. OIE Manuals Describe internationally agreed laboratory methods
for disease diagnosis, including zoonoses
for production and control of biological products, including vaccines
‘Prescribed’ and ‘alternative’ tests for
OIE listed diseases of terrestrial animals, and ‘other terrestrial animal diseases of importance’ to international trade
Diagnostic tests for
OIE listed diseases of aquatic animals

19. Network of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres
Worldwide network of:
155 OIE Reference Laboratories
15 OIE Collaborating Centres
Expertise in 92 animal diseases (including zoonoses) and other topics
Located in 31 Member Countries
Involving 149 world-renowned experts

20. Mandate of OIE Reference Laboratories
To function as a centre of expertise and standardisation for a designated disease(s) or topics;
To store and distribute to national laboratories biological reference products and any other reagents used in the diagnosis and control of the designated disease(s) or topics;
To develop new procedures for diagnosis and control of the designated disease(s) or topics
To gather, process, analyse and disseminate epizootiological data relevant to their speciality;
To place expert consultants at the disposal of the OIE.

21. Mandate of OIE Collaborating Centres
To operate as a centre of research, expertise, standardisation and dissemination of techniques within their sphere of competence;
To propose or develop any procedure that will facilitate harmonisation of international regulations applicable to the surveillance and control of animal diseases;
To place expert consultants at the disposal of the OIE;
Within their sphere of competence, to provide scientific and technical training to personnel from OIE Member Countries;
To organise scientific meetings on behalf of the OIE;
To coordinate scientific and technical studies in collaboration with other laboratories or organisations;
To publish and disseminate any information in their sphere of competence that may be useful to OIE Member Countries

22. OIE Reference Laboratories: New roles
Increasing Transparency
Resolution No. XXVIII of the 72nd General Session resolved:
“To amend the mandate of the OIE Reference Laboratories adopted as Resolution No XX during the 70th General Session, to ask OIE Reference Laboratories to inform the OIE Central Bureau of results that are confirmed positive for diseases that are reportable to OIE.
The result forwarded to the OIE will only be published by the OIE Central Bureau in agreement with the Delegate of the country concerned and after precise identification of the origin of the sample”.

23. OIE Reference Laboratories: New roles (continued)
Providing assurance to Member countries
Resolution No. XXIX of the 71st General Session resolved to establish an OIE procedure for the Validation and Certification of Diagnostic Assays (Test Methods) for Infectious Animal Diseases, and that “fitness for purpose” should be used as a criterion for validation.
The procedure will be launched during 2005, and the OIE Reference Laboratories will have a pivotal role in the validation process.

24. OIE Reference Laboratories: New roles (continued)
Improving capabilities
The OIE/FAO Network of Expertise on Avian Influenza (OFFLU) will be launched during the OIE/FAO International Scientific Conference on Avian Influenza to be held at the OIE Headquarters in Paris, 7–8 April, 2005.
The Network will provide guidance through the OIE Reference Laboratories, Collaborating Centres and experts. Its objectives are:
To develop research on epidemiology, diagnostics and vaccines for avian influenza (AI)
To offer veterinary expertise to Member Countries to assist in the control of AI
To collaborate with the WHO Influenza Network on issues relating to the animal–human interface

25. OIE Reference Laboratories: New roles (continued)
Improving participation
The current policy of the OIE, as stated on its 4th Strategic Plan, is to seek funding sources at the international, regional and national level to strengthen the scientific activities of the OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres in the least developed countries while at the same time consolidating the activities of laboratories in the developed countries by a ‘twinning’ strategy. This will contribute to capacity building for the veterinary scientific community in developing countries and will encourage greater participation by this community in negotiating the sanitary standards governing world trade and integrating the latest scientific research

26. World Organisation for Animal Health
12 rue de Prony
75017 Paris, France
Tel: 33 (0)
Fax: 33 (0)