1. Office International des Épizooties
World Organisation for Animal Health created in 1924 in Paris

2.   Promoting Biosafety and Biosecurity for Animal Diseases; The Role of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) International High-Level Forum on Bioeconomy: Biosafety Session September 2005
Dr. J.E. Pearson
World Organization for Animal Health (Office International des Epizooties ) 12 Rue de Prony, Paris, France (

3. Office International des Epizooties (World Organization for Animal Health)
Formed 25 January 1924 for the control of infectious animal diseases
Formed in response to an outbreak of an exotic disease, rinderpest, in Belgium

4. 167 Member Countries (May 2005)
Americas: 29 – Africa: 50 – Europe: 49 – Middle East: 13 – Asia: 26

5. Regional Representations
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
Administrative Commission
Specialist Commissions Code, Laboratories, Aquatic Animals, Scientific
Regional Commissions
Africa, Americas, Europe, Asia- Far East and Oceania, Middle East
Central Bureau
Director General
Collaborating Centres
Reference Laboratories
Ad hoc Groups
Working Groups
Administrative
and Financial
Department
Animal Health
Information
Department
International Trade
Department
Scientific and
Technical
Department
Regional Activities
Department
Publications
Department
Regional Representations

6. The OIE plays a critical role in the prevention, early detection, reporting, and control of animal diseases. The OIE uses a similar approach for natural, accidental or deliberate introduction

7. Consequences of Animal Diseases
Severe economic impact on the livestock industry
Disruption of food supply
Disruption of trade
Human diseases (zoonoses)

8. Impact of Disease Outbreaks
Foot and mouth disease (FMD) and avian influenza (AI) in China, no cost figures
FMD, UK 2001: $12 billion
FMD, Taiwan 1997: $15 billion
Classical Swine Fever, The Netherlands 1997: $2 billion
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, UK : $7 billion

9. Agro-Terrorism History
World War I: Germany infected cattle/horses in Argentina, France, Norway, Romania, Spain, and USA with anthrax and glanders
: Rhodesia Security Forces infected cattle with anthrax
1997: Russians used glanders against horses in Afghanistan

10. OIE’s Role in Biosafery and Biosecurity for Animal Diseases
Disease reporting: early warning
OIE Animal health Standards: Basis for reporting, prevention, control and eradication of disease
Capacity building: Enhance Veterinary Services and laboratory competence
Promoting laboratory biosafety and biosecurity:

11. OIE Information System Promotes Transparency and Knowledge of Global
Disease Reporting
OIE Information System
Promotes Transparency and
Knowledge of Global
Animal Disease Status in Order to Minimise Disease Spread

12. Within 24 Hours, the Following will be Reported to the OIE:
First occurrence or re–occurrence of a disease listed by the OIE in a disease free country or zone
Changes in the epidemiology of a disease i.e. host range, pathogenicity, new strain, zoonotic impact
A sudden and unexpected increase in morbidity or mortality caused by an existing disease
An emerging disease with significant morbidity/mortality or zoonotic potential

13. Disease Reporting (continued)
Member Countries provide early warning, weekly, and monthly reports and year end summaries to the OIE
Also reports from OIE Reference Laboratories and active search of unofficial sources, such as scientific publications and ProMed, and lay publications, with Member Country verification
Reports are provided to all interested parties:

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

15. OIE Animal Health Standards provide the basis for reporting prevention, control and eradication of disease

16. Animal Health Standards
The OIE was identified by the World Trade Organization (WTO) as the competent international organisation for developing international Standards, Guidelines and Recommendations related to animal diseases and zoonoses
Standards are approved by Member Countries and published in OIE Aquatic and Terrestrial Animal Health Codes and Diagnostic Manuals

17. OIE Animal Health Standards Provide:
Requirements and guidelines for disease reporting and surveillance
Definition of disease-free country or zone and procedures for gaining or regaining free status
For free movement of animals and animal products between free countries/zones
Restrictions on movement of animals and animal products from infected countries or zones

18. OIE Animal Health Standards Provide:
Procedures for safe importation of animals and animal products from an infected country or zone
Procedures for use of vaccine to control disease
Procedures for the international transfer and laboratory containment of animal pathogens

19. OIE Assists Member Countries to Develop their Veterinary Infrastructure

20. OIE assists in the development of:
Disease awareness (veterinarians and farmers)
Disease reporting
Risk analysis capability
Disease surveillance capability
Disease control methods
Laboratory capability

21. Veterinary Services Competence
Support by OIE Collaborating Centres
There are 15 Collaborating Centres in 9 countries
Provide capacity building in such areas as
Epidemiology
Risk assessment
Surveillance programs
Training of animal health officials

22. OIE assists in the building of veterinary laboratory competence and the harmonization of diagnostic testing and vaccine production

23. Laboratory Competence
To help build laboratory competence, capability and harmonisation, the OIE provides:
Standard methods –Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals
International Reference Sera
Quality assurance guidelines
Reference Laboratories

24. OIE Reference Laboratories
154 Laboratories, in 31 countries with 150 world renowned experts
Provide a source of expertise and standard reagents
Provide services not available in National laboratories such as “fingerprinting” of isolates to determine source

25. Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity

26. The OIE provides Standards for containment facilities, procedures for safely handling infectious agents and guidelines for securing high risk pathogens

27. Terrestrial Animal Health Code provides:
Procedures for assessing the risk of infectious agents and criteria for grouping the agents into one of four risk groups
Details of the facility requirements for four containment levels
Facility standards to prevent the release of the agents into the environment and protect the laboratory workers

28. Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals provides the biosafety procedures to minimise the risk of infection of laboratory workers. It provides additions precautions for risk group 2, 3, and 4 agents.

29. Biosecurity
The Terrestrial Animal Health Code and Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals emphasise:
That biosafety is the foundation of biosecurity
Appropriate methods should be in place to insure accountability of pathogens
National biosecurity standards must be met
OIE biosecurity Standards are being expanded

30. Summary
The recent global impact of disease outbreaks have emphasised the important role of the OIE’s disease reporting and control programmes in protecting against natural, accidental or deliberate disease introduction.
The OIE is working to build the capacity of Member Countries to control animal diseases.
The OIE’s biosafety and biosecurity Standards protect the laboratory worker and help prevent deliberate or accidental escape of agents

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