G/SPS/GEN/1255  
 
 
20 June 2013  
(13-3218)  Page: 1/12  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English/French/Spanish  
 
 RELEVANT ACTIVITIES 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE WORLD ORGANIZATION FOR ANIMAL HEALTH (OIE) 
The following communication, received on 14 June 2013, is being circulated at the request of the 
OIE. 
 
_______________ 
 
 The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) is pleased to provide this report for information of WTO Members attending the 57
th meeting of the SPS Committee. 
1  81ST GENERAL SESSION 
1.1.  On 26-31 May 2013 the OIE held its 81st General Session. More than 800 participants 
representing OIE member countries and intergovernmental, regional and national organisations 
attended the meeting. The Final Report of the 81st General Session is available on the OIE website 
("http://www.oie.int/en/about-us/final-reports-of-t he-general-session-of- the-oie-international-
committee/ "). 
1.1  Standard setting activities of the OIE 
1.2.  The OIE adopted updated texts in its normative publications, including 35 new or revised 
chapters in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code and nine revised chapters in the Aquatic Animal 
Health Code . Important chapters relevant to this Committee include: 
1.1.1  Terrestrial Animal Health Code : 
 Chapters on zoonotic parasites ( Echinococcus granulosus , Echinococcus multilocularis  and 
Trichinella  spp.) 
Updating these three chapters on zoonotic parasites is a good example of the ongoing 
collaboration between the OIE and the Codex Alimentarius Commission on topics of common interest taking into account the risk of contradictions. Representatives of Codex 
Alimentarius Commission were continuously invited to the ad hoc  Group meeting where 
the revision of these chapters was discussed. In addition, the progress of OIE's work was regularly reported to the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene and note taken by the Committee. 
 Infection with rinderpest virus (Chapter 8.12.) 
In response to Resolution No. 33 of the 80
th General Session in May 20121, the World 
Assembly of the OIE Delegates (the Assembly ) adopted the revised chapter on rinderpest. 
The revised chapter provides procedures to be followed in the event of recurrence of 
rinderpest infection and the requirements to reinstate global freedom. In addition, with a view to encouraging OIE member countries to sequester and destroy rinderpest virus, a 
new article requiring annual reporting on rinderpest virus-containing material is included in 
this chapter. 
                                               
1 Final Report of the 80th OIE General Session in May 2012: 
http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/About_us/docs/pdf/A_FR_2012_Public.pdf . G/SPS/GEN/1255 
 
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   Infection with peste des petits ruminants (Chapter 14.8.) 
In line with the global effort to control and eventually eradicate peste des petits ruminants 
(PPR), the Assembly adopted the revised Chapter 14.8., which provides for official recognition of PPR-free status. In addition, th e chapter provides for OIE's endorsement of 
an official control programme for PPR. The qu estionnaires for applicants seeking official 
recognition or OIE's endorsement of an offici al control programme are now included in the 
chapter on procedures for official recognition by the OIE (Chapter 1.6.). 
These provisions pave the way for a global eradication program to be implemented by OIE 
and FAO. 
 Infection with classical swine fever virus (Chapter 15.2.) 
In response to member country requests, the OIE revised this chapter to provide for 
official recognition of classical swine fever-free status. The questionnaire for applicants 
seeking official recognition is now included in the chapter on procedures for official 
recognition by the OIE (Chapter 1.6.). 
1.1.2  Aquatic Animal Health Code : 
 Diseases listed by the OIE (Chapter 1.3.) 
The revision of diseases listed by the OIE (Chapter 1.3.) was adopted and now includes: 
infection with Aphanomyces invadans , infection with infectious salmon anaemia virus 
(HPR0 and HPR-deleted), infection with salmonid alphavirus, and infection with OsHV1 microvariant listed as an emerging disease. 
 Infection with infectious salmon anaemia virus (Chapter 10.5.) 
Based on experts' recommendations, the A ssembly adopted the revised chapter on 
Infection with Infectious Salmon Anaemia virus (ISAV) which now differentiates the risk presented by HPR0 ISAV and HPR-deleted ISAV. 
1.2  Official OIE recognition of the diseas e status and control programmes for FMD of 
members 
1.3.  The OIE has evaluated and provided official recognition of disease status for foot and mouth 
disease (FMD), contagious bovine pleuropneumoni a (CBPP) and bovine spongiform encephalopathy 
(BSE). Following the adoption of revised Chap ter 12.1. (African horse sickness (AHS)) at the 
80
th General Session, the OIE added AHS in its list of diseases of official recognition. This year, 
60 member countries were recognised as free from AHS. 
1.4.  In addition, the OIE endorses official control programmes for FMD to facilitate progressive 
control of the disease. This year, one new country (Bolivia, Plurinational State of) obtained OIE's endorsement of its official control programme for FMD. 
1.5.  The full list of countries and their recognised disease status for FMD, CBPP, BSE and AHS is 
attached in Annex 1. 
2  CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES 
2.1  OIE PVS Pathway 
2.1.  The OIE continues its global initiative to support member countries wishing to comply with 
quality standards of national Veterinary Services and Aquatic Animal Health Services (AAHS) by following the PVS Pathway. 
2.2.  As previously reported, the OIE has updated the OIE PVS Tool  and developed the OIE PVS 
Tool: Aquatic . Both documents are now available on the OIE website at: 
http://www.oie.int/en/suppo rt-to-oie-members/pvs-ev aluations/oi e-pvs-tool/  
2.3.  The state of play of OIE members' engagement in the PVS Pathway can be found in Annex 2. G/SPS/GEN/1255 
 
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  2.2  Good Governance and Veterinary Education 
2.4.  As previously advised, the OIE is organising  a Global Conference on Veterinary Education and 
the role of Veterinary Statutory Bodies in Brazil, 4-6 December 2013. 
2.5.  The Conference will focus on analysing the current global situation with veterinary education 
and the performance of veterinary statutory bodi es. The Conference will raise awareness of the 
OIE standards and recommendations relevant to qu ality of Veterinary Services, and the roles and 
responsibilities of veterinarians in both public and private sectors; and discuss future needs and 
priorities to strengthen, at the global level, veterinary education and the performance of veterinary 
statutory bodies. 
2.6.  A wide range of stakeholders are expected to attend the Conference, including OIE delegates, 
deans of veterinary education establishments and leaders of veterinary statutory bodies. 
2.7.  More information on this Conference can be found at: 
http://www.oie.int/eng/A_ED UVSB2013/introduction.htm  
 G/SPS/GEN/1255 
 
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  ANNEX 1 
RESOLUTION NO. 17 
RECOGNITION OF THE FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE STATUS OF MEMBER COUNTRIES 
CONSIDERING THAT 
 
1. During the 62nd General Session, the OIE World Assembly of Delegates (Assembly) 
established a procedure for annually updating a list of Member Countries and zones 
recognised as free from foot and mouth diseas e (FMD) according to the provisions of the 
Terrestrial Animal Health Code  (Terrestrial Code ), 
 2. During the 80
th General Session, the Assembly adopted Resolution No. 25, which specified 
and updated the procedure for Member Countries to follow to achieve official recognition and 
maintenance of status for certain animal diseases, 
 
3. During the 80th General Session, the Assembly adopted Resolution No. 26, which specified 
and updated the financial implications for Member Countries applying for evaluation of official recognition or re-instatement of disease status to meet part of the costs defrayed by the OIE 
in the evaluation process, 
 4. Information published by the OIE is derived from declarations made by the OIE Delegate of 
Member Countries. The OIE is not responsible for publication and maintenance of Member 
Countries or zonal disease free status based on inaccurate information or non-reporting of 
changes in epidemiological status or other significant events subsequent to the time of declaration of freedom from FMD. 
 
THE ASSEMBLY  
RESOLVES THAT 
 1. The Director General publish the following list  of Member Countries recognised as FMD free 
where vaccination is not practised, according to the provisions of Chapter 8.5. of the 
Terrestrial Code : 
 
Albania Dominican Republic Japan Portugal 
Australia El Salvador Latvia Romania Austria Estonia Lesotho San Marino 
Belarus Finland Lithuania Serbia
1 
Belgium Former Yug. Rep. of Macedonia Luxembourg Singapore 
Belize France Madagascar Slovakia Bosnia and Herzegovina Germany Malta Slovenia Brunei Greece Mauritius Spain Bulgaria Guatemala Mexico Swaziland 
Canada Guyana Montenegro Sweden Chile Haiti Netherlands Switzerland Costa Rica Honduras New Caledonia Ukraine Croatia Hungary New Zealand United Kingdom Cuba Iceland Nicaragua Un ited States of America 
Cyprus Indonesia Norway Vanuatu Czech Republic Ireland Panama  Denmark Italy Poland  
 
2. The Director General publish the following Member Countries recognised as FMD free where 
vaccination is practised, according to the provisions of Chapter 8.5. of the Terrestrial Code : 
 Uruguay. 
 
                                               
1 Excluding Kosovo administered by the United Nations. G/SPS/GEN/1255 
 
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  3. The Director General publish the following li st of Member Countries having FMD free zones2 
where vaccination is not practised, according to the provisions of Chapter 8.5. of the 
Terrestrial Code : 
 
Argentina: one zone designated by the Delegate  of Argentina in a document addressed to the 
Director General in January 2007; 
 the summer pasture zone in the Province of  San Juan as designated by the Delegate 
of Argentina in a document addressed to the Director General in April 2011; 
Bolivia: one zone in the Macro-region of the Al tiplano designated by the Delegate of Bolivia 
in documents addressed to the Director General in November 2011; 
Botswana: one zone designated by the Delegate of Botswana in documents addressed to the 
Director General in November 2010, with the exclusion of the containment zone as 
designated by the Delegate of Botswana in a document addressed to the Director General in September 2011; 
Brazil: State of Santa Catarina designated by the Delegate of Brazil in a document 
addressed to the Director General in February 2007; 
Colombia: one zone designated by the Delegate of Colombia in documents addressed to the 
Director General in November 1995 and in April 1996 (Area I - Northwest region of 
Choco Department),  
 one zone designated by the Delegate of Colombia in documents addressed to the 
Director General in January 2008 (Archipelago de San Andres and Providencia); 
Malaysia: one zone covering the provinces of  Sabah and Sarawak as designated by the 
Delegate of Malaysia in a document addressed to the Director General in December 
2003; 
Moldova: one zone designated by the Delegate  of Moldova in a document addressed to the 
Director General in July 2008; 
Namibia: one zone designated by the Delegate of Namibia in a document addressed to the 
Director General in February 1997; 
Peru: one zone consisting of three merged zones as designated by the Delegate of Peru in 
documents addressed to the Director General in December 2004, in January 2007 
and in August 2012; 
Philippines: one zone on the islands of Mindanao designated by the Delegate of the Philippines in 
a document addressed to the Director General in August 2000,  
 one zone consisting of the islands of Visayas and the provinces of Palawan and 
Masbate, as designated by the Delegate of the Philippines in a document addressed 
to the Director General in August 2000 and December 2001,  
 three separate zones located on the Island of Luzon as designated by the Delegate 
of the Philippines in a document addressed to the Director General in December 
2009 and November 2010; 
4. The Director General publish the following li st of Member Countries having FMD free zones3 
where vaccination is practised, according to  the provisions of Chapter 8.5. of the Terrestrial 
Code: 
 Argentina: two separate zones designated by the Delegate of Argentina in documents 
addressed to the Director General in March 2007 and in August 2010; 
Bolivia: zone of Chiquitania designated by the Delegate of Bolivia in documents addressed to 
the Director General in January 2003 and in March 2007, 
 one zone adjacent to the east of Chiquitania designated by the Delegate of Bolivia in 
documents addressed to the Director General in August 2010; 
                                               
2 For detailed information on the delimitation of zones of Member Countries recognised as FMD free, 
enquiries should be addressed to the Director Gene ral of the OIE. 
3 For detailed information on the delimitation of zones of Member Countries recognised as FMD free, 
enquiries should be addressed to the Director Gene ral of the OIE. G/SPS/GEN/1255 
 
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   one zone consisting of the regions of Chaco and part of Valles as designated by the 
Delegate of Bolivia in a document addressed to the Director General in August 2012; 
Brazil: five separate zones designated by the Delegate of Brazil in documents addressed to 
the Director General as follows:  
 one zone covering the territory of State of Rio Grande do Sul (documentation of 
September 1997),  
 one zone consisting of State of Rondônia  (documentation of December 2002), State 
of Acre along with two adjacent municipalities of State of Amazonas (documentation 
of March 2004) and an extension of this zone  into the territory of State of Amazonas 
(documentation of December 2010),  
 one zone consisting of the middle southern part of State of Pará (documentation of 
February 2007), States of Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Sergipe, 
Distrito Federal, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Paraná, São Paulo, parts of State of Bahia, parts of State of Tocantins (documentation  of May 2008), and the zone in State of 
Mato Grosso do Sul (documentation of July 2008),  
 one zone in State of Mato Grosso do Sul (documentation of August 2010),   one zone located in States of Bahia and Tocantins (documentation of December 
2010); 
Colombia: one zone consisting of five merged zones designated by the Delegate of Colombia in 
documents addressed to the Director General in January 2003, in December 2004 
(two zones), in January 2007 and in January 2009; 
Peru: one zone consisting of the regions of Tumbes and parts of Piura and Cajamarca as 
designated by the Delegate of Peru in a document addressed to the Director General 
in August 2012; 
Turkey: one zone as designated by the Delegate  of Turkey in a document addressed to the 
Director General in November 2009. 
AND 
 
5. The Delegates of these Member Countries shall immediately notify the Headquarters if FMD 
occurs in their countries or zones within their territories. 
 
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(Adopted by the World Assembly of Delegates of the OIE on 28 May 2013) G/SPS/GEN/1255 
 
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  RESOLUTION NO. 18 
ENDORSEMENT OF OFFICIAL CONTROL PROG RAMMES FOR FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE 
OF MEMBER COUNTRIES 
CONSIDERING THAT 
 
1. During the 79th General Session, the OIE World Assembly of Delegates (Assembly) adopted 
Resolution No. 19 establishing a new step in the procedure for recognizing the foot and mouth 
disease (FMD) status of a Member Country, namely the endorsement by the OIE of a national 
official control programme for FMD being in compliance with the provisions of the chapter on FMD in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code  (Terrestrial Code ), 
 
2. During the 80
th General Session, the Assembly adopted Resolution No. 25, which specified 
and updated the procedure for Member Countries to follow to achieve endorsement of their 
official control programme for FMD, 
 
3. During the 80th General Session, the Assembly adopted Resolution No. 26, which specified 
and updated the financial implications for Member Countries applying for endorsement of their 
official control programme for FMD to meet part of the costs defrayed by the OIE in the 
evaluation process, 
 4. Information published by the OIE is derived from declarations made by the OIE Delegate of 
Member Countries. The OIE is not responsible for publication and maintenance of Member 
Countries with an endorsed official control programme for FMD based on inaccurate information or non-reporting of significant changes in the implementation of relevant 
measures in the Member Country subsequent to the time of endorsement of the official 
control programme for FMD. 
 
THE ASSEMBLY 
 RESOLVES THAT  
The Director General publish the following list of Member Countries with endorsed official control 
programme for FMD, according to the provisions of Chapter 8.5. of the Terrestrial Code : 
 
Algeria, Bolivia, Morocco and Tunisia. 
 
_______________ 
 
   
 
  
 
  
 
   
 
  
 
(Adopted by the World Assembly of Delegates of the OIE on 28 May 2013) G/SPS/GEN/1255 
 
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  RESOLUTION NO. 19 
RECOGNITION OF THE CONTAGIOUS BOVINE PLEUROPNEUMONIA DISEASE STATUS 
OF MEMBER COUNTRIES 
CONSIDERING THAT 
 
1. During the 71st General Session, the OIE World Assembly of Delegates (Assembly) established 
a procedure for annually updating a list of Member Countries and zones, recognised as free 
from contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (C BPP) according to the provisions of the Terrestrial 
Animal Health Code  (Terrestrial Code ), 
 2. During the 80
th General Session, the Assembly adopted Resolution No. 25, which specified 
and updated the procedure for Member Countries to follow to achieve official recognition and 
maintenance of status for certain diseases, 
 
3. During the 80th General Session, the Assembly adopted Resolution No. 26, which specified 
and updated the financial implications for Member Countries applying for evaluation of official recognition or re-instatement of disease status to meet part of the costs defrayed by the OIE 
in the evaluation process, 
 4. Information published by the OIE is derived from declarations made by the OIE Delegate of 
Member Countries. The OIE is not responsible for publication and maintenance of Member 
Countries or zonal disease free status based on inaccurate information or non-reporting of 
changes in epidemiological status or other significant events subsequent to the time of declaration of freedom from CBPP. 
 
THE ASSEMBLY  
RESOLVES THAT 
 1. The Director General publish the following list of Member Countries recognised as free from 
CBPP according to the provisions of the Chapter 11.8. of the Terrestrial Code : 
 
Australia Botswana China (People's  
  Republic of) 
India Portugal 
Switzerland 
United States of America 
 AND 
 
2. The Delegates of these Member Countries shall immediately notify the Headquarters if CBPP 
occurs in their countries or their territories. 
 
_______________ 
  
 
  
 
   
 
  
 
 
(Adopted by the World Assembly of Delegates of the OIE on 28 May 2013) G/SPS/GEN/1255 
 
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  RESOLUTION NO. 20 
RECOGNITION OF THE BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY RISK STATUS 
OF MEMBER COUNTRIES 
CONSIDERING THAT 
 
1. During the 67th General Session the OIE World Assembly of Delegates (Assembly) established 
a procedure for annually updating a list of Member Countries, categorised by their bovine 
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk according to the provisions of the Terrestrial Animal 
Health Code  (Terrestrial Code ), 
 2. During the 80
th General Session, the Assembly adopted Resolution No. 25, which specified 
and updated the procedure for Member Countries to follow to achieve official recognition and 
maintenance of status of certain diseases, 
 
3. During the 80th General Session, the Assembly adopted Resolution No. 26, which specified 
and updated the financial implications for Member Countries applying for evaluation of official recognition or re-instatement of disease status to meet part of the costs defrayed by the OIE 
in the evaluation process, 
 4. Information published by the OIE is derived from declarations made by the OIE Delegate of 
Member Countries. The OIE is not responsible for publication and maintenance of Member 
Countries disease status based on inaccurate information or non-reporting of changes in 
epidemiological status or other significant events subsequent to the time of declaration of the BSE risk status. 
 
THE ASSEMBLY  
RESOLVES THAT 
 1. The Director General publish the following list of Member Countries recognised as having a 
negligible BSE risk in accordance with  Chapter 11.5. of the Terrestrial Code: 
 
Argentina Australia 
Austria 
Belgium Brazil 
Chile 
Colombia Denmark Finland Iceland 
India 
Israel 
Italy Japan 
Netherlands 
New Zealand Norway Panama Paraguay 
Peru 
Singapore 
Slovenia Sweden 
United States of 
  America Uruguay 
 
2. The Director General publish the following list of Member Countries recognised as having a 
controlled BSE risk in accordance with Chapter 11.5. of the Terrestrial Code: 
 
Bulgaria Canada 
Chinese Taipei 
Costa Rica Croatia  Cyprus 
Czech Republic 
Estonia France Germany 
Greece 
Hungary 
Ireland Korea (Rep. of) Latvia 
Lichtenstein 
Lithuania Luxembourg  Malta 
Mexico 
Nicaragua 
Poland Portugal Slovakia 
Spain 
Switzerland United Kingdom 
 G/SPS/GEN/1255 
 
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  AND 
 3. The Delegates of these Member Countries shall immediately notify the Headquarters if BSE 
occurs in their countries or their territories. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
   
 
  
 
  
 
   
 
  
 
  
 
   
 
  
 
  
 
   
 
  
 
  
 
   
 
  
 
  
 
   
(Adopted by the World Assembly of Delegates of the OIE on 28 May 2013) G/SPS/GEN/1255 
 
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  RESOLUTION NO. 21 
RECOGNITION OF THE AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS STATUS OF MEMBER COUNTRIES 
CONSIDERING THAT 
 
1. During the 80th General Session, the OIE World Assembly of Delegates (Assembly) adopted 
Resolution No. 19, which amended the chapter of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code  
(Terrestrial Code ) on African horse sickness (AHS). These standards provide a pathway for 
Member Countries or zones to be reco gnised by the OIE as free from AHS, 
 2. During the 80
th General Session, the Assembly adopted Resolution No. 25, which specified 
and updated the procedure for Member Countries to follow to achieve official recognition and 
maintenance of status for certain animal diseases, including AHS, 
 3. During the 80
th General Session, the Assembly adopted Resolution No. 26, which specified 
and updated the financial implications for Member Countries applying for evaluation of official 
recognition or re-instatement of disease status to meet part of the costs defrayed by the OIE in the evaluation process, 
 
4. Information published by the OIE is derived from declarations made by the OIE Delegate of 
Member Countries. The OIE is not responsible for publication and maintenance of Member Countries or zonal disease free status based on inaccurate information or non-reporting of 
changes in epidemiological status or other significant events subsequent to the time of 
declaration of freedom from AHS. 
 
THE ASSEMBLY 
 RESOLVES THAT 
 
1. The Director General publish the following list of Member Countries recognised as AHS free 
according to the provisions of Chapter 12.1. of the Terrestrial Code : 
 
Algeria 
Argentina Australia 
Austria 
Azerbaijan Belgium 
Bolivia 
Bosnia and   Herzegovina Brazil 
Bulgaria 
Canada Chile 
Chinese Taipei 
Colombia Croatia 
Cyprus Czech Rep. 
Denmark 
Finland Former Yug. Rep.  
  of Macedonia 
France Germany Hungary 
Ireland 
Italy Kuwait 
Liechtenstein 
Lithuania Luxembourg 
Malaysia Malta 
Mexico 
Netherlands New Caledonia 
New Zealand 
Norway Oman Paraguay 
Peru 
Poland Portugal 
Qatar 
Romania Singapore 
Slovakia Slovenia 
Spain 
Sweden Switzerland 
Tunisia 
Turkey United Kingdom United States of 
  America 
Uruguay 
 
AND 
 2. The Delegates of these Member Countries shall immediately notify the Headquarters if AHS 
occurs in their countries or their territories. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
 
(Adopted by the World Assembly of Delegates of the OIE on 28 May 2013) G/SPS/GEN/1255 
 
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  ANNEX 2 
A SUMMARY OF PROGRESS ON PVS PATHWAY EVALUATIONS 
PVS Evaluation missions: St ate of play (15 May 2013) 
 OIE members PVS Evaluation 
requests 
received PVS Evaluation 
missions 
implemented Reports 
available for 
(restricted) 
distribution to 
Donors and 
Partners 
Africa 52 53 49 38 
Americas 29 25 22 18 
Asia, the Far East 
and Oceania 32 19 18 11 
Europe 53 16 16 12 
Middle East 12 12 11 5 
TOTAL 178 125 116 84 
 
PVS Gap Analysis: State of play (15 May 2013) 
 OIE members PVS Gap 
Analysis 
requests 
received PVS Gap 
Analysis 
missions 
implemented Reports 
available for 
(restricted) 
distribution to 
Donors and 
Partners 
Africa 52 40 34 21 
Americas 29 14 10 9 
Asia, the Far East 
and Oceania 32 14 10 7 
Europe 53 8 6 2 
Middle East 12 8 4 0 
TOTAL 178 84 64 39 
 
Veterinary Legislation: St ate of play (15 May 2013) 
 OIE members PVS Legislation 
mission requests 
received PVS Legislation 
missions 
implemented 
Africa 52 25 17 
Americas 29 6 4 
Asia, the Far East and 
Oceania 32 5 5 
Europe 53 3 2 
Middle East 12 4 4 
TOTAL 178 43 32 
 
 
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