G/SPS/GEN/1963  
 
15 October  2021 
(21-7817) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English/French/Spanish  
 
  
81ST MEETING OF THE SPS COMMITTEE  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE WORLD ORGANISATION FOR ANIMAL HEALTH (OIE)  
The following communication, received on 13 October 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 81st meeting of the SPS Committee.  
The report summari zes ke y activities in the OIE 's standard -setting work programme, along with 
updates on OIE capacity building activities.  
1  DEVELOPMENTS IN THE OIE STANDARDS FOR TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC ANIMALS  
1.1.  The four OIE Specialist Commission s met virtually during September 2021  to continue work to 
review existing, and develop new OIE international standards in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code, 
the Aquatic Animal Health Code, the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals 
and the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals, along with other activities relevant to each 
Commission's terms of reference.  
1.2.  As the outcomes of these meetings were not available at the time this report was compiled , a 
verbal update will be provided to the Committee on key outcomes.  
1.3.  Reports of these four meetings, including new and revised standards circulated for member 
comments, will be available on the OIE website during November 2021. The links to these reports, 
once available, are provided below:  
− Biological Standards Commission  September 2021 meeting report;  
− Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases  September 2021 meeting report;  
− Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission  September 2021 meeting report;  
− Terrestrial Animal Health Commission  September 2021 meeting report.  
1.4.  The OIE would like to highlight to the Committee the following work undertaken during these 
September meetings . 
1.5.  Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The Terrestrial Animal Health Standards 
Commission (TAHSC) in collaboration with the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases (SCAD), 
together with the recommendations from several OIE ad hoc Groups, has undertaken an in -depth 
review of Chapter 11.4, Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, of the Terrestrial Code. Amendments 
include updated provisions on the categori zation of official BSE risk status as well as revised 
provisions on BSE risk assessment and surveillance. The revised chapter was circulated for member 
comments in the TAHSC Sept ember 2021 report. The revised chapter will be proposed for adoption 
at the 2022 General Session.  
1.6.  Rinderpest. The deadliest cattle disease in history, was officially declared eradicated from the 
world in 2011. Chapter 8.16, Infection with rinderpest virus,  remained in the Terrestrial Code to G/SPS/GEN/1963  
 
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  address the risk of re -emergence. In 2020, a thorough review of Chapter 8.16. was conducted to 
improve surveillance, notification, and control provisions. The structure of the chapter and the trade 
provisions were also revised to ensure the maintenance of global freedom and its prompt recovery 
in the case of re -emergence. The revised chapter was circulated for member comments in the TAHSC 
September 2021 report. The revised chapter will be proposed for adoption at the 202 2 General 
Session.  
1.7.  Infection with foot and mouth disease virus. The TAHSC, in collaboration with the SCAD, has 
progressed the revision of Chapter 8.8, Infection with foot and mouth disease virus, of the Terrestrial 
Code. The revised chapter addresses sever al long -standing issues and was circulated for another 
round of member comments in the TAHSC September 2021 report.  
1.8.  Section 5 Trade measures, import/export procedures and veterinary certification of the 
Terrestrial Code. The TAHSC agreed that a number of c hapters in Section 5 of the Terrestrial Code 
should be revised to improve recommendations regarding the risk management measures for the 
importation of live animals and animal products. The TAHSC agreed to prioriti ze the revision of 
Chapters 5.4, 5.5, 5.6 and 5.7 to address the key steps in the process of international trade, 
including measures at origin, in transit, and on arrival.  
1.9.  Mammalian tuberculosis (infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex). The Biological 
Standards Commission , together with  the recommendations of an OIE ad hoc Group, developed a 
new chapter to broaden the scope from bovine tuberculosis to mammalian tuberculosis, including 
specific information relevant to cattle, goats and camelids. The new draft Chapter 3.1.X will be 
circula ted for member comments in October 2021 and will be proposed for adoption at the 2022 
General Session. Once adopted Chapter 3.4.6, Bovine tuberculosis will be deleted from the 
Terrestrial Manual.  
1.10.  Chapter 1.4. Aquatic Animal Health Surveillance of the Aquat ic Code. The Aquatic Animal 
Health Standards Commission (AAHSC) has continued its substantial revision of Chapter 1.4. to 
provide guidance for self -declaration of freedom from disease, rather than providing general 
guidance on aquatic animal health surveil lance. This revision also supports the work being 
undertaken to revise Articles X.X.4 –X.X.8 in the disease -specific chapters of the Aquatic Code which 
provide recommendations for the demonstration of disease freedom. The revised Chapter 1.4. and 
model Arti cles X.X.4 –X.X.8 were circulated for member comments in the AAHSC September 2021 
report and will be proposed for adoption at the 2022 General Session.  
1.1  Developments of case definitions for OIE -listed terrestrial animal diseases  
1.11.  The OIE maintains a list of t errestrial animal diseases that are of international concern due to 
their effect on animal or human health, and OIE members are obliged to notify the OIE when an 
OIE-listed disease (Chapter 1.3 Diseases, infections and infestations listed by the OIE, of th e 
Terrestrial Code ) is detected in their country, zone or compartment. To support OIE members' shared 
common understanding of what constitutes a 'case' for the purposes of notification, the OIE launched 
an initiative prioriti zing the development of case de finitions for those OIE -listed terrestrial animal 
diseases that do not have a case definition in the Terrestrial Code. To date, six new case definitions 
have been developed (three of which are available on the OIE website) , with another eight currently 
under development.  
2  ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR)  
2.1.  Following the adoption of Resolution 14 "OIE's engagement in the One Health Global Effort to 
Control Antimicrobial Resistance" by the World Assembly of OIE Delegates in May 2019, a Working 
Group on AMR was est ablished to support the implementation of the OIE Global Strategy on AMR. 
The Working Group has met five times, with the 5th meeting in October 2021. All meeting reports 
are available at: Working Group on Antimicrobial Resistance - OIE - World Organisation for Animal 
Health . 
2.2.  A major output of the Working Group has been the publication of the "Technical R eference 
Document Listing Antimicrobial Agents of Veterinary Importance for Poultry", which complements 
the OIE List of Antimicrobial Agents of Veterinary Importance (available as Appendix III of the G/SPS/GEN/1963  
 
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  October 2020 meeting report). Using the same methodology , the Working Group is currently working 
on a Technical reference document for swine and aquatic animals.  
3  PROVISION OF SCIENTIFIC ADVICE TO THE OIE AND ITS MEMBER COUNTRIES  
3.1.  The Director General establishes ad hoc Groups to provide specific technical and sc ientific 
advice required to support the work of the OIE and the OIE Specialist Commissions. The OIE 
publishes information on its website providing the dates and terms of reference of proposed ad hoc 
Groups , as well as reports once these have been validated  and considered by the relevant Specialist 
Commissions.  
3.2.  This information is available on the OIE website at: ad hoc Groups information . 
4  SELF -DECLARED DISEASE STATUS  
4.1.  Since the adoption of the revised Chapter 1.6, specifically the provisions on publication by the 
OIE of a self -declaration of animal health status by a member , and Chapter 10.4, Infection with high 
pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAI) at the OIE General Session in May 2021, the OIE has 
received a significant number of applications from members for publication of self -declarations for 
HPAI. One significant change in the revised Chapter 1.4. was the reduced period of recovery of free 
status from a minimum period of three months to a minimum period of 28 days after applying a 
stamping -out policy and surveillance that has demonstrated absence of infection. The OIE will 
continue to screen these appli cations and consider them for publication in accordance with its 
Standard Operating Procedure . 
5  GLOBAL INITIATIVE FOR THE GLOBAL CONTROL OF AFRICAN SWINE FEVER  
5.1.  In July 2020, the OIE, in collaboration with FAO under the Global Framework for the Progressive 
Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF -TADs) launched a joint initiative for the Global 
Control of African Swine Fever (ASF GI), which aimed at bringing stakeholders from m ultiple sectors 
together to improve coordination and galvani ze the sustained effort and political will needed for the 
global control of ASF.  
5.2.  Important activities under the ASF GI included an online event in June 2021 on public -private 
partnership (PPP) for  ASF to highlight the central role of PPPs and promote the engagement and 
collaboration of the public and private sectors in the ASF GI, and the upcoming launch of the Standing 
Group of Experts on ASF for Africa to enhance regional coordination of ASF cont rol activities. The 
first Annual report of the ASF GI for the year 2020 was published, highlighting the progress and 
showcasing some of the activities achieved. The annual report may be found at: Global Control of 
African swine fever. A GF -TADs initiative - 2020 annual report - OIE - World Organisation for Animal 
Health . 
5.3.  With the recent outbreak of ASF in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, several activities were 
organized by the GF -TADs to coordinate activities in the region, including emergency meetings with 
Veterinary Authorities, along with key partner organi zations in the region such as OIRSA  
(International Regional Organi zation  for Plant and Animal Health ), OIPORC  (Ibero -American Pig 
Organization ), IICA  (Inter -American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture ), CAN 
(Andean  Community ), CaribVET  (Caribbean Animal Health Network ) and the CVP  (Standing 
Veterinary Committee ) to exchange information, mobili ze resources and organize capacity -building 
activities for the region . 
6  CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES  
6.1  Performance of Veterinary Services Pathway (PVS Pathway) for the sustain able 
improvement of national Veterinary Services: New developments  
6.1.  The OIE has initiated a process for digitali zation of the PVS Pathway to offer greater flexibility 
and efficiency in terms of delivery.  G/SPS/GEN/1963  
 
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  6.2.  PVS Evaluation missions: a pilot "blended format" for  PVS evaluation and follow-up missions is 
being developed which will involve a physical mission by PVS experts from the region working 
together with some experts participating remotely.  
6.3.  PVS Gap Analysis missions: the approach for PVS Gap Analysis missions and its link to Strategic 
Planning Support methodology are currently under revision to allow for remote delivery. This review 
will also include incorporating a greater focus on national priorities, and facilitate more active inputs 
from the country request ing the mission. The first remote pilot mission took place in August -
September 2021 in Kazakhstan.  
6.4.  Targeted Support missions: PVS Sustainable Laboratory Support and PVS Veterinary 
Legislation Support Programme (VLSP) have been successfully delivered in a n ew fully remote format 
during 2021 (Liberia and Togo, respectively).  
7  OIE TRAINING PLATFORM: VETERINARY SERVICES COMPETENCIES FOR TRADE  
7.1.  As part of the reform of its training system initiated in 2018, the OIE is developing its 
Competency -based Training Framework  structured around 16 Competency Packages that form the 
architecture of the OIE future training programmes, both for distance and face -to-face delivery.  
7.2.  The objective of this Frame work is to support the implementation of OIE standards by 
Veterinary Services worldwide. One Competence Package will be dedicated to trade and will be 
populated with approximatively 30 e -modules, mainly to help OIE members implement Section 5 of 
the OIE Te rrestrial Code. By the end of 2022 , we plan to have developed the first batch of around 
10 e-modules that will address international trade regulatory framework, import risk analysis, animal 
health status and regionali zation, pre -export and import measures and control.  
7.3.  Guidelines on the production of e -modules have just been published and guidelines on learning 
needs assessments are under development and will assist members to conduct their own learning 
needs assessment, in particular on aspects of trade.  
7.4.  Since 2019, newly appointed Delegates and Focal Points have access to an e -training package 
on their rights and responsibilities as an OIE member, the OIE mandate, mission and main activities, 
the OIE international standards and the standard -setting proces s, and on the quality of Veterinary 
Services.  
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