World Organisation for Animal Health

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World Organisation for Animal Health
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food and feed safety legal framework for
international trade
OIE / FAO / JLTA workshop on food and feed safety

• David Wilson
• Head, International Trade
• OIE

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Topics for discussion

• role and structure of the OIE
• international trade framework
• OIEs animal health information systems
• OIEs international standards
• new mandate for food safety
• animal health status recognition
• OIE information

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• Role and structure of the OIE

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The OIE

• World Organisation for Animal Health
• an intergovernmental organisation
• founded in 1924 predates the UN
• 167 Member Countries
• headquarters in Paris

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The OIEs objectives

• ensure transparency in global animal health
  situation
• collect, analyse and disseminate veterinary
  information
• contribute expertise and encourage coordinated
  approach to disease outbreaks
• within its WTO mandate, safeguard world trade
  through animal health standards
• animal welfare and animal production food safety
• improve veterinary services

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INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE Administrative Commission
Director General
Specialist Commissions Terrestrial Code, Aquatic
Code, Biological Standards,Scientific
Regional Commissions Africa, Americas, Europe,
Asia- Far East and Oceania, Middle East
Central Bureau
CollaboratingCentres ReferenceLaboratories
Ad hoc Groups Working Groups
International Trade Department
Administrative and Financial Department
Animal Health Information Department
Scientific and Technical Department
Regional Activities Department
Publications Department
Regional Representations
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• International trade framework

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OIEs WTO mandate

• WTO SPS Agreement recognises OIE as a reference
  organisation for international standards (3
  sisters)
• for food safety - the Codex Alimentarius
  Commission
• for animal health and zoonoses - the OIE
• for plant health - the International Plant
  Protection Convention (IPPC)

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Why standards necessary

• international public good
• safety of international trade
• fewer disease outbreaks
• harmonisation of national legislation and control
  measures
• fewer unjustified restrictions
• fairer trade
• benefits to developing countries

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Influences on standards

• pressure from exporting countries for less
  restrictions
• pressure from importing countries for maximum
  protection
• consumer reactions
• pressure from developing countries for assistance
  in participating in standards development
• fairer standards

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WTO SPS Agreement

• SPS Agreement applies to measures to protect
• human, animal and plant life and health from
  pests and diseases
• a country from damage caused by pests
• AND
• which may directly or indirectly affect
  international trade
• ie health measures
• sanitary covers human and animal health
• phytosanitary applies to plant health

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Examples of SPS measures

• required residence in disease-free area
• quarantine on arrival
• ante-mortem inspection
• commodity testing
• residue limits for veterinary drugs or pesticides
  in food
• heat processing
• veterinary certification

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WTO SPS Agreement

• a health measure must be based on an
  international standard, if one exists
• unless there is scientific justification for a
  stronger measure
• or if a country decides it needs a higher level
  of protection than the standard gives
• in which case, a health measure must be based on
  a risk analysis
• Agreement significantly changed status of OIE and
  Codex in international law

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Right to protection

• an importing country has the right to adopt
  sanitary measures to achieve the level of
  protection it thinks appropriate to protect its
  human, animal or plant life or health
• this level of protection must be consistently
  applied
• sanitary measures must be based on scientific
  principles and not maintained without sufficient
  scientific evidence

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No discrimination

• an SPS measure must not discriminate arbitrarily
  or unjustifiably between countries where
  identical or similar conditions exist
• an SPS measure must not be more trade restrictive
  than necessary to achieve the importing country's
  level of protection
• taking into account technical and economic
  feasibility

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Provisional measure

• when there is insufficient scientific evidence to
  complete a risk assessment, an importing country
  may impose a provisional measure based on
  available information
• additional information must be sought to allow a
  more objective assessment and the measure
  reviewed within a reasonable period of time

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Other provisions

• regionalisation
• disease/pest free areas
• equivalence
• different health measures may provide the same
  level of protection
• prior notification
• except in emergencies, countries are required to
  give at least 60 days notice of new regulations
  and to seek comments from other countries

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International relationships

• World Health Organization (WHO)
• FAO
• World Trade Organization (WTO)
• Codex Alimentarius Commission
• International Dairy Federation (IDF)
• World Bank
• IPPC
• World Veterinary Association
• Regional orgs (OAU-IBAR, PAHO, OIRSA, IICA) and
  others

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Codex / OIE cooperation

• pre-harvest food and feed safety
• veterinary drugs and antimicrobial resistance
• risk analysis
• regionalisation and zoning
• surveillance and monitoring
• biotechnology
• control, inspection, certification procedures
• zoonoses

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• OIEs animal health information systems

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OIE information systems

• improve knowledge of global animal health
  situation
• through transparency in reporting disease
  outbreaks and incidents
• active search and verification of non-official
  information
• new disease notification system under development

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Countries obligations

• OIE Member Countries agree to fulfil their
  international reporting obligations as laid down
  in the OIE Codes
• to make available to other countries, through the
  OIE, whatever information is necessary to
  minimise the spread of important animal diseases
  and to assist in achieving better worldwide
  control of these diseases

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OIE Early Warning System

• Member Countries shall send to the Central Bureau
  within 24 hours, info on any of the following
  events
• first occurrence of a listed disease and/or
  infection in a country or zone/compartment
• re-occurrence of a listed disease and/or
  infection in a country or zone/compartment,
  following a report declaring the outbreak ended
• first occurrence of a new strain of a pathogen in
  a country or zone/compartment

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OIE Early Warning System

• a sudden and unexpected increase in the
  distribution, incidence, morbidity or mortality
  of a disease prevalent within a country or
  zone/compartment
• an emerging disease with significant morbidity or
  mortality, or zoonotic potential
• evidence of change in the epidemiology of a
  listed disease (including host range,
  pathogenicity, strain) in particular if there is
  a zoonotic impact

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OIE Global Information System

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OIE Global Info System

• weekly reports to provide further info on the
  evolution of an incident
• these reports continue until the situation has
  been resolved - final report then submitted
• a six-monthly report on the absence or presence,
  and evolution of diseases listed by the OIE and
  info of epidemiological significance to other
  countries
• an annual questionnaire

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• OIEs international standards

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OIE international standards

• OIE develops and publishes health standards for
  trade in animals and animal products
• OIE develops and publishes biological standards
• through elected Specialist Commissions
• adopted by OIE Member Countries during General
  Session each May by consensus

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OIE Specialist Commissions

• Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission
• Biological Standards Commission
• Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases
• Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission
• using working groups and ad hoc groups for
  specialist tasks eg animal welfare, BSE,
  epidemiology, food safety

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OIE International Standards

• Terrestrial Animal Health Code
• Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for
  Terrestrial Animals
• Aquatic Animal Health Code
• Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals

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Updating OIE standards

• issue / problem identified by Delegate, OIE
  Commission, scientist, individual
• new scientific information eg from research
• new disease - emerging
• new approaches eg vaccination
• addressed by appropriate Commission
• using advice from expert group, other Commission
  or OIE Reference Lab

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Updating OIE standards

• proposal circulated for Member Country comment
• including revised Code / Manual text
• Commission may revise proposal on basis of
  comments received
• discussed by Delegates at General Session
• may be discussed only and returned for further
  work, or
• may be adopted as OIE international standard

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• OIE trade standards

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OIE Codes

• recommend health measures to be used by
  veterinary authorities or other competent
  authorities
• to establish health regulations for the safe
  importation of animals and animal products

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Principles in the Codes

• WTO obligations complied with
• scientific basis for recommendations
• assessment of risk factors
• evaluation of veterinary services
• zoning and compartmentalisation
• epidemiological surveillance
• credible health certification
• importing country assumed to be free of disease
  or with a control programme

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Approach in the Code

• generic (horizontal) chapters
• general definitions
• obligations and ethics in international trade
• import risk analysis methodology
• monitoring and surveillance systems
• evaluation of veterinary services
• import/export procedures

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Approach in the Code

• specific chapters on listed diseases for
• live animals
• genetic material
• products of animal origin (meat, milk, hides /
  skins)
• chapter articles on
• description of pathogen / disease
• determining status of a country or zone
• list of safe commodities
• recommendations for unsafe commodities

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Approach in the Code

• Appendices
• collection and processing of semen / embryos
• inactivation of pathogens and vectors
• transport of animals
• epidemiological surveillance systems
• Model veterinary certificates for
• live animals
• products of animal origin

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Evolution of OIE standards

• harmonisation between Terrestrial and Aquatic
  Codes
• harmonisation with Codex standards
• regular updating of chapters based on latest
  scientific information
• need to move from emphasis on disease status to
  risk-based measures for commodities
• increased importance of disease surveillance and
  notification

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• OIE biological standards

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OIE biological standards

• OIE harmonises diagnostic testing and vaccination
  procedures through use of
• standard methods OIE Manuals
• Reference Laboratories / Collaborating Centres
• International Reference Sera
• quality assurance guidelines
• supports laboratories in Member Countries ?
  reliable results
• coordinated by BSC and AAHSC

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OIE Manuals

• describe internationally agreed laboratory
  methods
• for disease diagnosis
• for production and control of biological
  products, including vaccines
• prescribed and alternative tests for OIE
  listed diseases

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Using the Manual

• general information for veterinary officials on
  each disease, with tests and vaccines
• detailed techniques for laboratory technicians
• diagnostic tests
• prescribed those required by the Code for
  international trade printed in blue
• not every listed disease has a prescribed test
• alternative suitable for import/export after
  bilateral agreement

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Reference Laboratories

• 157 Reference Laboratories in 30 countries cover
  80 diseases and topics
• centres of expertise and standardisation to other
  laboratories and to OIE
• store and distribute reagents
• develop / validate new diagnostic tests
• coordinate scientific / technical studies
• provide scientific and technical training
• prepare and distribute proficiency tests

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Collaborating Centres

• 15 Collaborating Centres in 7 countries
• centres of expertise to OIE and Member Countries
  on generic issues
• help develop procedures to harmonise
  international animal disease regulations
• coordinate collaborative studies
• provide training
• organise scientific meetings for the OIE

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• food and feed safety

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OIEs food safety goal

• to reduce food borne risks to human health by
  preventing, eliminating or controlling hazards
  arising from animals
• prior to slaughter of the animal or primary
  processing of the product

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OIE food safety WG

• manages OIE food safety activities
• terms of reference
• consider all food-borne hazards arising from
  animals before slaughter, or before primary
  processing of the product
• primary focus on food safety measures applicable
  at the farm level
• develop work programme taking into account food
  safety priorities and current work of relevant
  international organisations, especially Codex

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Coordination with Codex

• need for Codex and OIE to jointly review
  standards and identify gaps / duplications
• joint standards
• mutually recognised standards
• linkages between standards
• priorities for zoonoses
• those not appropriately addressed in the Code
• brucellosis and tuberculosis
• those not always affecting animals

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Coordination with Codex

• OIE involved in work of Codex Committees
• Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene
• Codex Committee on Food Hygiene
• Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products
• Ad hoc Task Force on Animal Feeding
• Guidelines on the use of Veterinary Drugs

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Animal Feeding

• OIE contributed to new Codex standard on Good
  Animal Feeding
• which aims to establish a feed safety system for
  all food producing animals
• through adherence to good animal feeding
  practices and good manufacturing practices
• covers industrial feed, grazing, production of
  forage crops and aquaculture

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Animal Feeding

• it stipulates that feed ingredients should
• be obtained from safe sources
• meet acceptable standards for levels of
  pathogens, mycotoxins, pesticides etc
• it designates responsibilities for each
  participant in the feed chain
• it considers specific requirements for premises,
  transportation, training, equipment and
  manufacturing controls

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Other OIE FS priorities

• dual roles and functionalities of veterinary
  services throughout the food chain
• public health and animal health
• good farming practices
• to minimise hazards
• antimicrobial resistance
• prudent use
• biotechnology

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• Animal health status recognition

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animal health status

• OIE officially recognises country / zone animal
  health status for 4 diseases only
• FMD
• rinderpest
• contagious bovine pleuropneumonia
• BSE
• OIE publishes country statements re other
  diseases, without verifying their accuracy
• for information of Member Countries

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animal health status

• assessment
• detailed questionnaire from OIE to country
  requesting status recognition
• examination of data provided and supporting
  documents by expert group
• as necessary, expert mission to country
• Scientific Commission evaluation
• decision of OIE International Committee by
  consensus as formal resolution
• outcomes published on OIE Web site

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• OIE information

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OIE publications

• Weekly Disease Information
• OIE International Standards
• Codes annually Manuals every 2 years
• OIE Scientific and Technical Review
• 3 times yearly
• OIE Bulletin
• 4 times yearly
• World Animal Health
• annually

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OIE Web site

• early warning notices
• Weekly Disease Information
• OIE International Standards
• information on animal diseases and zoonoses
• OIE Review abstracts and articles
• information on OIE activities

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Thank you for your attention
World organisation for animal health
12 rue de Prony 75017 Paris, France Tel 33 (0)1
44 15 18 88 Fax [phone] Email
oie_at_oie.int http//www.oie.int