1. Veterinary Legislation
OIE support for
Veterinary Legislation
OIE Seminar: Good Governance for Veterinary Services
Gaborone, Botswana January 2008
Gideon Brückner
Deputy Director-General

2. Contents Linkage between OIE Code and National legislation Background
Outline of the project on Model Legislative Framework for Veterinary Services
State of play

3. The linkage between OIE Terrestrial Code and National Veterinary Legislation
OIE Code has international legislative implication mandated in SPS Agreement – dispute settlement
OIE Code provides minimum standards for the legislative base for national veterinary legislation
National Acts provide the legislative and political mandate for the delivery of veterinary services
National Acts provide the legislative base what should be done
National Directives/Regulations provide the legislative base how it should be done
National Acts and Regulations using OIE Code as reference point should be the ideal

4. Legislation and SPS Agreement
Article 3:
“To harmonize sanitary and phytosanitary
measures on as wide a basis as possible,
Members shall base their sanitary
or phytosanitary measures
on international standards..”
Annex A (3b):
“For animal health and zoonoses,
the standards, guidelines
and recommendations
developed under the auspices
of the International Office of Epizootics”
Legislation = Legal mandate
and support to apply sanitary
measures

5. OIE Code and veterinary legislation (1.3.3)
‘The Veterinary Services must be able to demonstrate by means
of appropriate legislation, sufficient financial resources
and effective organisation that they are in a position to have control
of the establishment and application of animal health measures,
and of international veterinary certification activities.
Legislation should be suitably flexible to allow for judgements
of equivalence and efficient responses to changing situations.
In particular, they should define and document
the responsibilities and structure of the organisations in charge
of the animal identification system, control of animal movements,
animal disease control and reporting systems, epidemiological
surveillance and communication of epidemiological information’.

6. OIE Code and veterinary legislation (1.3.3)
Professional judgement
Independence
Impartiality
Integrity
Objectivity
Procedures = Regulations/Directives
‘The Veterinary Services should develop
and document appropriate procedures and standards
for all providers of relevant activities’

7. Veterinary involvement/interventions that need legislative support
Animal disease control (Terrestrial and Aquatic*)
Meat hygiene & Veterinary public health *
Veterinary medicines *
Wildlife*
Veterinary professionals and para-professionals *
Veterinary education *
Animal production *
Germplasm *
Animal identification *

8. Legislative implications in the OIE Codes and Manuals
Suveillance
Veterinary council
Risk analysis
Humane slaughter
Defining concepts
Disposal of dead animals
Ethical considerations
Transport of animals
Disease control
Inactivation of pathogens
Criteria for disease listing
Diagnostic procedures
Certification procedures
Animal welfare
Antimicrobial usage
Vaccine production
Transport of specimens

9. Background of the project
Development of the OIE PVS concept, including appropriate veterinary legislation
Some countries asked for guidance to set up or to modernise veterinary legislation
October 2007 letter of Director-General to ascertain interest of African countries
OIE focal point :
Dr Bastiaensen, assisted by:
Dr Van Niekerk – Anglophone countries
Dr Petitclerc – Francophone countries

10. Outline of the project
Consultants will examine different models from several countries
Recommendations from consultants will assist pilot countries wishing to set up / modernise national legislation
Generic model legislation will be prepared for all OIE Members
Recommendations will not be part of Terrestrial Code but will be on OIE website

11. Outline of the project
Model legislation will be a useful reference point for quality of veterinary services
Scope: Terrestrial Animals only
All activities of VS described in Terrestrial Code Chapter

12. Key elements
General framework, veterinary infrastructures and prerogatives
Animal Health
Veterinary Public Health
Animal Feeding
Import/Export of animals and products
Animal welfare
Controls over para-veterinary activities

13. Special remarks OIE does not recommend a specific administrative model
VS need a sound legislative basis
Veterinary chain of command
Decisions based on science and risk management principles
Scientific process independent from political interference
Veterinary training and professional education.

14. State of play
Information was sent to 25 Francophone (F) and 21 Anglophone countries (A)
7 Countries will be visited
Draft reports of the consultants will be discussed at the Regional Commission meeting May 2008.

15. Thank you for your attention

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Organisation Mondiale de la Santé Animale
World Organisation for Animal Health
Organización Mundial de Sanidad Animal
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