1. Access to regional and global markets for all:
Dr Bernard Vallat, Director General
Access to regional and global markets for all:
a new priority for the OIE
OIE seminar on Good Governance for Veterinary Service
Gaborone - Botswana 2008
Comments (with copyright) / Commentaires (soumis au Copyright) :

2. SOME KEY FACTS Established in 1924: 172 Members
Intergovernmental organisation – predates the UN
Permanent Regional Representations: Bamako (Mali), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Tokyo (Japan), Sofia (Bulgaria) and Beirut (Lebanon)
Sub-regional Offices: Bangkok (Thailand), Gaborone (Botswana), Panama, Brussels (Belgium)
Regional Commissions: Africa, America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Middle East 50 13
Briefly introduce the OIE.
Number of countries is growing all the time.
All OIE international standards are adopted by consensus of its Members.
2/3 of the Member Countries and Territories are developing countries. They need support to comply with international standards, achieve food security and economic growth, and participate in international trade.
Geographic balance is important throughout the OIE procedures. 29 52 28

3. ‘The improvement of animal health all around the world’
OIE MANDATE
Historical: ‘To prevent animal diseases
from spreading around the world’
The 4th Strategic Plan 2006/2010 extends the OIE’s global mandate to:
‘The improvement of animal health all around the world’
This new broader OIE mandate can only be achieved with Good Governance of the Veterinary Services worldwide.

4. to collect, analyse and disseminate scientific veterinary information
OIE OBJECTIVES
ANIMAL HEALTH INFORMATION
to ensure transparency in the global animal disease and zoonosis situation
to collect, analyse and disseminate scientific veterinary information
[source :
Objective 1 :
Ensure transparency in the global animal disease situation
“Each Member undertakes to report the listed animal diseases in its territory. The OIE disseminates the information to other countries, which can take the necessary preventive action. This information includes diseases transmissible to humans (zoonoses) and the results of intentional introduction of pathogens. Information is sent out immediately or periodically as defined by the OIE. Dissemination is via the OIE Web site, (on a permanent basis) and the following periodicals: Disease Information, published weekly and the annual “World Animal Health”.
Collect, analyse and disseminate veterinary scientific information
The OIE collects and analyses the latest scientific information on animal disease control. This information is then made available to the Members to help them to improve the methods used to control and eradicate these diseases. Guidelines are prepared by the network of about 200 OIE Collaborating Centres and Reference Laboratories across the world.
Scientific information is also disseminated through various works and periodicals published by the OIE, notably the Scientific and Technical Review (3 issues a year).

5. INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
OIE OBJECTIVES
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
to promulgate health standards for the safety of international trade in animals and animal products and animal disease surveillance (within its WTO mandate)
to contribute to food safety and food security
and to promote animal welfare, through a science-based approach
[source :
Objective 2 :
Sanitary safety
Safeguard world trade by publishing health standards for international trade in animals and animal products
The OIE develops normative documents relating to rules that Members can use to protect themselves from the introduction of diseases and pathogens, without setting up unjustified sanitary barriers. The main normative works produced by the OIE are: the Terrestrial Animal Health Code, the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, the Aquatic Animal Health Code and the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals.
OIE standards are recognised by the World Trade Organization as referenced in the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS agreement). They are prepared by internationally renowned scientists, most of whom are experts within the network of about 200 Collaborating Centres and Reference Laboratories. These standards are presented by elected specialist commissions and adopted by the International Committee.

6. PVS concept is closely linked with the objectives
OIE OBJECTIVES
ACTIVITIES OF VETERINARY SERVICES
to provide expertise and encourage international solidarity in the control of animal diseases
to improve the legal framework and resources of national Veterinary Services
[source :
Objective 3 : To provide expertise and encourage international solidarity in the control of animal diseases
“The OIE provides technical support to Members requesting assistance with animal disease control and eradication operations, including diseases transmissible to humans. The OIE notably offers expertise to the poorest countries to help them control animal diseases that cause livestock losses, present a risk to public health and threaten other Members.
The OIE has a permanent contact to international regional and national financial organizations in order to encourage them to invest in the improvement of control of animal diseases and zoonosis.”
If appropriate, mention;
Veterinary Services are a Global Public Good
with beneficial effects for:
Poverty Alleviation
Securing assets (capital, animal)
Increasing productivity
Market Access: local, regional and international
Public Health: food safety and food security
PVS concept is closely linked with the objectives

7. OIE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
Official references of the World Trade Organisation (SPS Agreement)
Adopted by consensus of OIE Members
Terrestrial & Aquatic Animal Health Code
Containing disease standards
Terrestrial & Aquatic Manual
Containing techniques for diagnostis and quality requirements for vaccines
Available at
Details of these chapters will appear later.

8. STANDARD SETTING PROCEDURE
PROBLEM
Specialist
Commissions
Review
Advice of experts or other Specialist Commissions
Draft text
COMMITTEE
Delegates
Adoption
COMMITTEE, COMMISSIONS, DELEGATES 1 2
Comments
OIE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD

9. Prepared on the basis of a meticulous risk analysis.
OIE standards
Prepared on the basis of a meticulous risk analysis.
Importing countries need to reduce the use of arbitrary risk analysis methods, and adopt OIE standards systematically
No ZERO RISK
The Code already contains recommendations on commodities that are safe to trade. 9

10. How to improve the OIE standards?
More structured and logical presentation :
Live animals
Specific animal products
Sufficiently detailed information on products that have been processed to render them safe:
regardless of the country’s animal health status
Taking into account best practice in:
Industrial and food technologies
Advances in understanding of pathogen behaviour and inactivation. 10

11. OIE will advocate for:
A change of attitude that results in import bans on countries that meet their OIE obligations by reporting diseases
Such approach is acceptable as an interim measure, while awaiting precise information
Bans should be replaced by protection measures based on OIE standards and recommendation on each commodities as quickly as possible. 11

12. The development of new research programmes on important trade issues.
OIE will advocate for:
The development of new research programmes on important trade issues.
eg. better knowledge of the conditions under which FMD virus survives or not during meat maturation
However, it is important not to adopt an approach based solely on pathogen inactivation, which could lead to relaxing efforts to prevent and control animal diseases based on surveillance 12

13. Importance of OIE policies
Positive impact on poverty reduction and public health
Justification for improving financing of VS to maintain surveillance networks and rapid response teams
To deal with animal health threats as they emerge and/or are recognised 13

14. OIE standards on the quality of VS
Compliance with OIE standards is a prerequisite to
effective surveillance
reliable and credible certification
Allowing countries to gain access to regional and global markets without posing a risk to animal health and public health. 14

15. Good Governance of Veterinary Services
Requirements for all countries
Need for appropriate legislation and implementation through national animal health systems providing for:
Early detection, Transparency, Notification
Rapid response to animal disease outbreaks
Biosecurity
Compensation
Vaccination when appropriate

16. Good Governance of Veterinary Services
Building and maintaining efficient epidemiosurveillance networks and territorial meshing in the entire national territory, potentially for all animal diseases...
a responsibility of Governments
Concept of ‘Quality of Services’ adopted by all OIE Members

17. Global Public Good
Global public goods are goods whose benefits extend to all countries, people and generations.

18. Global Public Good
In the case of eradication of infectious diseases, the benefits are international and inter­generational in scope.
Countries depend on each other
Inadequate action by a single country can jeopardize others
Failure of one country may endanger the planet.

19. Activities of Veterinary Services
Veterinary Services are a Global Public Good
with beneficial effects for:
Poverty Alleviation
Securing assets (capital, animal)
Increasing productivity
Market Access: local, regional and international
Public Health: food safety and food security

20. Thank you for your attention

21. World organisation for animal health
12 rue de Prony
75017 Paris, France
Tel: 33 (0)
Fax: 33 (0)