G/SPS/GEN/1923  
 
22 June 2021 
(21-5078) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English/French/Spanish  
 
 
80TH MEETING OF THE SPS COMMITTEE  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE WORLD ORGANISATION FOR ANIMAL HEALTH (OIE)  
The following communication, received on 21 June 2021, is being circulated at the request of the 
OIE. 
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The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is pleased to provide this report for the information 
of WTO Members attending the 80th meeting of the SPS Committee.  
88th General Session  
For the first time ever, the 88th Annual General Session of the World Assembly of delegates was held 
virtually from Monday 24 to Friday 28 May 2021.  
The General Session included the adoption of administrative and technical resolutions as well as the 
election of members of the governing bodies of the OIE (OIE Council and of the Bureaux of the 
Regional Commissions), and the members of the four OIE Specialist Commissions. Approximately 
400 participants from 165 countries participated in the live event, including representatives of 
OIE members as well as observers from partner organizations. More than 800 people connected to 
the livestream.  
Dr Monique Eloit was re -elected as the Director General to serve another five-year term.  
OIE national delegates adopted 31 Resolutions. The Report of the 88th General Session  and adopted 
Resolutions  are available on the OIE website.  
1  STANDARD SETTING ACTIVITIES AT THE 88TH GENERAL SESSION  
1.1.  Due to the COVID -19 pandemic and the subsequent postponement of the 2020 General Sessi on 
no new or revised standards for the OIE International Standards had been adopted since 2019. 
The consequence of this was that a larger number of new and revised standards than usual were 
adopted at the 88th General Session.  
1.2.  The OIE delegates adopted upd ated texts in the OIE International standards: the Terrestrial 
Animal Health Code (Terrestrial Code), the Aquatic Animal Health Code (Aquatic Code), the Manual 
of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals (Terrestrial Manual), and the Manual of  
Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (Aquatic Manual).  
1.3.  Amendments adopted at the General Session comprised thirteen revised chapters and 
three  new chapters in the Terrestrial Code; thirty -seven revised chapters and one new chapter in 
the Terrestrial Manua l; eight revised chapters and one new chapter in the Aquatic Code and 
seven  revised chapters and one new chapter in the Aquatic Manual. In addition to the adoption of 
new and revised chapters, some Glossary definitions were amended, and new definitions add ed in 
the two Codes.  G/SPS/GEN/1923  
 
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  1.4.  Information regarding all new and revised text adopted in the OIE International standards are 
available in the report of the 88th General Session . 
1.5.  More details about new and revised texts in the OIE International standards of interest to the 
SPS Committee are noted below . 
1.1  Terrestrial Code  
1.6.  Avian influenza : 
− A revised Terrestrial Code Chapter 10.4. Infection with h igh pathogenicity avian influenza 
viruses was adopted. The chapter was amended to focus on infection with high pathogenicity 
avian influenza viruses, in line with the changes to the OIE listed disease. It includes a new 
article on safe commodities and two new articles defining a compartment free from high 
pathogenicity avian influenza and recommendations for its establishment. It also contains 
new and revised recommendations on surveillance for avian influenza, including surveillance 
for demonstrating freed om from infection with high pathogenicity avian influenza, and 
revised provisions for the recovery of freedom;  
− 'Infection of domestic and captive wild birds with low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses 
having proven natural transmission to humans associa ted with severe consequences' was 
added to the OIE list of diseases (Article 1.3.6) so that the outbreaks are notified to the OIE;  
− The Glossary definition for 'poultry' was amended to provide more clarity on the different 
kind of birds covered by the defin ition, for the purposes of the Terrestrial Code;  
− The Terrestrial Manual chapter on Avian influenza was also updated, including amendments 
to reflect the current knowledge of the disease and ensure alignment with the changes 
adopted in the Terrestrial Code chapter.  
1.7.  A new Chapter 8.Y. Infection with Trypanosoma brucei , T. congolense , T. simiae  and T. vivax  
was adopted to provide the appropriate risk management recommendations. Infection with 
Trypanosoma brucei , T. congolense , T. simiae  and T. vivax  was also a dded to the OIE list of diseases 
(Article 1.3.1). The corresponding Terrestrial Manual  chapter was also revised and adopted. 
The OIE will continue to work on reviewing and developing its standards to address other relevant 
trypanosomes species and host ani mals.  
1.8.  A revised Chapter 15.2. Infection with classical swine fever virus was adopted, aimed at 
ensuring alignment with other disease -specific chapters, notably those for which the OIE grants 
official recognition of the disease status.  
1.9.  Infection of dromedar y camels with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 
(MERS  CoV) was added to the OIE list of diseases (Article 1.3.9).  
1.10.   A revised Chapter 1.6. Procedures for self -declaration and for official recognition by the 
OIE was adopted. The revised chapter pro vides further details on the requirements for official 
recognition of animal health and risk status, and endorsement of an official control programme by 
the OIE.  
1.11.   Section 3. Quality of veterinary services was comprehensively revised to reflect the 
contempor ary activities and responsibilities of the Veterinary Services and to ensure better 
alignment with other chapters in the Terrestrial Code . Revised chapters on Quality of Veterinary 
Services, Evaluation of Veterinary Services, and Veterinary Legislation wer e adopted. A new chapter 
to introduce the concept of Veterinary Services, their role and importance, and to introduce the 
structure of Section 3 was added.  
1.12.   A new Chapter 4.Y. Official control programmes for listed and emerging diseases was adopted 
that pro vides recommendations for the preparation, development and implementation of official 
control programmes for listed and emerging diseases.  
1.13.   Chapter 4.4. Zoning and compartmentalisation was revised to address the concept of 
'protection zone', in order to imp rove its practical function as a temporary risk management strategy 
to minimise the impact that a disease introduction would have on an entire country or zone. This G/SPS/GEN/1923  
 
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  revised concept was also incorporated into the OIE processes for the official recognition o f animal 
health or risk status by the OIE.  
1.14.   The online version of the 29th edition (2021) of the Terrestrial Code  will soon be available and 
can be accessed from the OIE public website.  
1.2  Terrestrial Manual  
1.15.   A new chapter on Middle East respiratory syndrome (infection of dromedary camels with 
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) was adopted to provide diagnostic techniques for this 
newly listed disease.  
1.16.   Chapter 2.1.2. Biotechnology advances in the diagnosis of infectious diseases , was updated 
by an expert consultation to better reflect new technologies developed since it was last updated in 
2012.  
1.17.   Chapter 3.3.4. Avian influenza (including infection with high pathogenicity avian influenza 
viruses) was amended in line with the revisi ons to the corresponding chapter in the Terrestrial Code . 
1.18.   Chapter 3.3.14. Newcastle disease (infection with Newcastle disease virus) the taxonomy was 
amended to reflect the new nomenclature APMV -1. The information on sampling and initial testing 
in both ch apters was revised and harmonised.  
1.19.   Chapter 3.2.7. Varroosis of honey bees (infestation of honey bees with Varroa  spp.) was 
thoroughly updated to reflect the latest scientific information.  
1.20.   Chapter 3.5.3. Nagana: infections with salivarian trypanosomoses (ex cluding Trypanosoma 
evansi  and T. equiperdum ): the ratings of tests in Table 1 were reviewed and the corresponding 
diagnostic methods were added or updated.  
1.21.   Chapter 3.6.2. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease was updated to reflect the changing patterns of 
disease and technical developments.  
1.22.   Chapter 3.7.9. Peste des petits ruminants (infection with small ruminant morbillivirus), the 
section on requirements for vaccines was updated, especially the method of manufacture and final 
product batch tests.  
1.23.   The online versio ns of these new and revised chapters will be available shortly in the 
Terrestrial Manual . 
1.3  Aquatic Code and Aquatic Manual  
1.24.   A new chapter 4.X. Bio security for aquaculture establishments was adopted to provide 
guidance on the key princip les of aquatic animal biosecurity and will support increased biosecurity 
in aquaculture establishments.  
1.25.   Infection with decapod iridescent virus 1 was adopted as a lis ted disease of crustaceans which 
will support transparent and timely notification of disease and support members in preventing 
transboundary spread.  
1.26.   The list of susceptible species in the disease -specific chapters on Infection with spring 
viraemia of carp virus, Infection with viral haemorrhagic septicaemic virus and Infection with 
Bonamia ostreae in the Aquatic Code and Aquatic Manual were amended after consideration of the 
work of the ad hoc Groups on Susceptibility of fish and molluscs species to infecti on with OIE listed 
diseases.  
1.27.   A new chapter on Infection with Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans  was adopted for inclusion 
in the Aquatic Manual. Chapters on infection with Gyrodactylus salaris, Infection with salmonid 
alphavirus, infection with spring virae mia of carp virus, infection with infectious haematopoietic 
necrosis virus and infection with viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus in the Aquatic Manual  were 
revised using the new disease -chapter template and adopted.  G/SPS/GEN/1923  
 
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  1.28.   The online version of the 23rd edition  (2021) of the Aquatic Code  will soon be available and 
can be accessed from the OIE public website.  
2  OFFICIAL OIE RECOGNITION OF ANIMAL HEALTH STATUS A ND CONTROL PROGRAMMES 
OF MEMBER COUNTRIES  
2.1.  OIE members can apply to be included in the list of countries with an officially recognised status 
for the following six priority diseases: bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), foot and mouth 
disease (FMD), cont agious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), African horse sickness, peste des petits 
ruminants (PPR) and classical swine fever (CSF).  
2.2.  At the 88th General Session, several countries or zones of countries obtained official recognition 
of their status:  
− One zone of Brazil (re -zoning) and one zone in Colombia were officially recognised as being 
'free from CSF';  
− Italy and Paraguay were officially recognised as being 'free from CBPP';  
− North Macedonia was officially recognised as being 'free from PPR';  
− Canada and Ireland  were officially recognised as having a 'negligible BSE risk';  
− Three zones in Brazil were officially recognised as 'free from FMD without vaccination', and 
one zone in Colombia and two zones in Russia were officially recognised as 'free from FMD 
with vaccination'.  
2.3.  In addition to official status recognition, two countries, Namibia and Philippines were 
recognised as having an OIE endorsed official control programme for dog -mediated rabies. These 
were the first members to receive this endorsement.  
2.4.  The full list of countries and their recognised status for AHS, BSE, CBPP, CSF, FMD, and PPR 
can be accessed online  the OIE public website.  
3  AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH STRATEGY  
3.1.  The first OIE Aquatic Animal Health Strategy  (2021 -2025) was launched at the 88th General 
Session with the support of its 182 members . The strategy will improve aquatic animal  health and 
welfare worldwide, contributing to sustainable economic growth, poverty alleviation and food 
security, thereby supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.  
4  TECHNICAL ITEM  
4.1.  The Technical Item for the 88th General Session was 'Lessons learned prior to and during the 
pandemic: How the OIE can support Veterinary Services to achieve One Health resilience '. 
The Technical Item analy zed evidence gathered through surveys, studies, and consultations. It also 
used data from the PVS Pathway mission reports and from OIE -WAHIS. Key areas addressed by the 
Technical Item were lessons learned from the OIE's involvement in the response to COVID -19; 
vulnerabilities to One Health resi lience which were identified to include a lack of attention to wildlife 
health management, and its inadequate integration into animal health and One Health strategies; 
weaknesses in OIE members' capacity to put emergency management measures into operation 
(leading to a lack of preparedness); and chronic systemic weaknesses in the sustainability of 
diagnostic laboratory systems.  
4.2.  Resolution No. 31 'How OIE can support Veterinary Services to achieve One Health resilience' 
was drafted by Delegates and their nom inated experts from a selection of countries (Australia, Brazil, 
Canada, Costa Rica, France, Georgia, Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania , Thailand, 
United  Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States of America) and was adopted by the 
World Assembly during the General Session. It recommends: enhanced multisectoral working 
(emergency management, wildlife); integration of wildlife health into core animal health and one 
health strategies, to manage the risk of disease emergence whilst protect ing wildlife health and 
biodiversity; building global capacity for emergency management; addressing sustainability 
(adaptation to country needs, capacity, resources, and risk profile; sharing resources, models and 
best practices); inclusion of veterinary s ervices in high level multisectoral platforms (disaster and G/SPS/GEN/1923  
 
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  emergency plans); use of innovation to make progress; adopt all hazards approach, holistic and 
systems -based thinking to better address One Health and complex global challenges.  
5  GLOBAL ANIMAL HEAL TH SITUATION  
5.1.  Due to the shortened 88th General Session, the annual report on the current animal health 
situation worldwide was provided by video format prior to the General Session on the OIE website. 
The video focused on some indicators of country reporting followed by a brief description of f our 
animal diseases for which epizootic situations were observed in 2020 and early 2021. It concluded 
with an update on the OIE -WAHIS platform. The video was developed using an interactive 
presentation, which was shared with members , allowing them to disco ver and explore the data.  
5.2.  The Video and Interactive presentation  are available on the OIE website.  
 
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