WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/176
5 May 2000
(00-1830)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English/
French/
Spanish
STANDARDIZATION ACTIVITIES OF THE OIE
SINCE THE NOVEMBER 1999 MEETING OF THE SPS COMMITTEE
Submission by the Office international des Epizooties (OIE)
1. Meeting of the International Animal Health Code Commission
The International Animal Health Code Commission met at the OIE Headquarters from 24 to
28 January 2000. During the meeting, the Commission drew up a list of the texts that it intended to
submit to the International Committee of the OIE for adoption at the 68th General Session(May 2000) with a view to updating the International Animal Health Code :
− Definitions in the International Animal Health Code;
− Evaluation of Veterinary Services;
− Zoning/regionalisation;
− Bluetongue;
− Aujeszky’s disease;
− Anthrax;
− Paratuberculosis;
− Bovine spongiform encephalopathy;
− Japanese encephalitis.
In addition, the Commission requested the Director Ge neral of the OIE to convene, if possible before
the 68th General Session, Ad hoc Groups on Newcastle disease and scrapie.
2. Meeting of the Foot and Mouth Disease and Other Epizootics Commission
The Foot and Mouth Disease and Other Epizoot ics Commission met at the OIE Headquarters
from 24 to 27 January 2000. During the meeting, the Commission examined the following main
points:
− Applications submitted by Member Countries for the OIE to recognise all or part of their
territory as being free from foot and mouth di sease, either with or without vaccination;
− Applications submitted by Member Countries to  be recognized as being free from rinderpest
or contagious bovine pleuropneumonia;
− Preliminary draft standard on surveillance systems for foot and mouth disease;
− A questionnaire that will have to be completed by Member Countries wishing to have all or
part of their territory recognized by the OIE as being free from bovine spongiform
encephalopathy.G/SPS/GEN/176
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The Commission also reviewed two documents, pr epared by the FAO, on emergency intervention in
the event of epizootics in Africa, and considered that, globally, these documents complied with the
recommendation adopted by the OIE Regional Comm ission for Africa requesting the OIE and the
FAO to work together to develop guidelines on the use of stamping out within the framework of
animal disease control programmes.
3. Meeting of the Standards Commission
The Standards Commission met at the OIE H eadquarters from 2 to 4 February 2000. During
the meeting the Commission:
− revised the list of experts of OIE Referen ce Laboratories for several animal diseases;
− reviewed progress on work relating to international standardization of diagnostic tests or
vaccines for several animal diseases;
− reviewed the list of recommended laboratory tests for international trade relating to some ten
diseases;
− discussed the contents of the next Manual of Standards for Diagnostic Tests  and Vaccines
(the Manual ), which is due for release at the end of the year;
− conducted an exchange of views with a represen tative of VICH (International Cooperation on
Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for the Registration of Veterinary Medicinal
Products), to ensure that the Manual and the guidelines developed by VICH are in line;
− developed a draft standard on quality systems for veterinary laboratories, which is an
interpretative text of ISO 17025 Standard.
The members of the Standards Commission also met a representative from the World Health
Organization's International Laboratory for Biol ogical Standards (United Kingdom) to discuss
possible collaboration in various fields.
4. Meeting of the Fish Diseases Commission
The Fish Diseases Commission met at the OIE Headquarters from 11 to 13 February 2000.
On the subject of international standardization the Commission examined the following topics:
− International Aquatic Animal Health Code : the Commission approved modifications
proposed by Member Countries relating to certain definitions and chapters in this Code ;
− Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases ;
− guidelines on emergency intervention plans in the aquatic environment;
− designation of new Reference Laboratories.
The Commission also examined the conclusions of the International Conference on risk analysis in
aquatic animal health, organised by the OIE from 8 to 10 February 2000.G/SPS/GEN/176
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5. Meeting of an Ad hoc Group on antimicrobial resistance
An Ad hoc Group on antimicrobial resistance was held at the OIE Headquarters from 7 to
9 March 2000.  The agenda for the meeting included the following items:
− Risk analysis;
− Standardisation and harmonisation of laboratory methodologies;
− Harmonisation of monitoring programmes;
− Guidelines on prudent use of antimicrobials used in animal husbandry;
− Guidelines on monitoring antimicrobial quantities used in animal husbandry.
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All the standardizing texts prepared by the four Specialist Commissions of the OIE will be
submitted for adoption to the International Committee at the General Session in May 2000. As the
members of these Commissions are nearing the end of their term of office, elections will be held
during the Session.
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