G/SPS/GEN/1478  
 
8 March 2016  
(16-1336)  Page: 1/5  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English/French/Spanish  
 
65TH MEETING OF THE SPS COMMITTEE 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE WORLD ORGA NISATION FOR ANIMAL HEALTH (OIE) 
The following communication, received on 4 March 2016, is being circulated at the request of the 
OIE. 
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The OIE is pleased to provide this update for the information of SPS Committee Members. 
As a preliminary matter, please note that from 1 January 2016 Dr Monique Eloit has assumed the 
responsibilities of OIE Director General as successo r of Dr Bernard Vallat, who served for 15 years. 
This report focuses on: 1) the developments in the OIE standards for terrestrial and aquatic 
animals; 2) the survey on the participation of Veterinary Services in National Committees for 
implementation of the new Trade Facilitation Ag reement of the World Trade Organization; 3) the 
fourth OIE Global Conference on Veterinary Education in June 2016; and 4) capacity building using 
the OIE PVS Pathway. 
1  DEVELOPMENTS IN THE OIE STANDARD S FOR TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC ANIMALS 
1.1.  The Biological Standards Commission met from 2-5 February 2016 and reviewed member 
countries' comments and prepared new and revised text portions in the Manual of Diagnostic Tests 
and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals  t o  b e  p r o p o s e d  f o r  a d o p t i o n  a t  t h e  8 4th General Session 
(22-27 May 2016). 
1.2.  The Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission (Code Commission) met from 
8-19 February 2016 and reviewed member countries' comments and prepared new and revised text portions in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code  (Terrestrial Code ). Texts will be proposed for 
adoption, at the 84
th General Session, or circulated for member countries' comments.  
1.3.  The Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission met from 15-19 February 2016 and 
reviewed member countries' comments and prepared new and revised text portions in the Aquatic 
Animal Health Code  (Aquatic Code ) and Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals . Texts will 
be proposed for adoption at the 84th General Session, or circulated for comments. 
1.4.  The OIE draws the attention of WTO Members to the following important developments in the 
Terrestrial Code and Aquatic Code . The number of chapters to be proposed for adoption is limited 
this year, respecting the principle of the two-year  cycle of standard development so as to provide 
member countries with enough time to examine, and opportunities to comment on, the text. 
1.1  Terrestrial Code 
1.1.1  Glossary definitions for OIE Stan dards, Guidelines and other matters 
1.5.  As reported at the October 2015 SPS Committee meeting, draft definitions for OIE Standard 
and OIE Guideline were circulated among member countries and their comments were examined 
by all Specialist Commissions. The revised definitions in both Terrestrial Code  and Aquatic Code  
will be circulated for member countries' further consideration. G/SPS/GEN/1478 
 
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  1.6.  The glossary definitions for " zone" were amended and will be circulated for member 
countries' consideration. 
1.1.2  OIE procedures relevant to  WTO SPS Agreement (Chapter 5.3.) 
1.7.  Taking into account comments of recent WTO Dispute Settlement Body panels and with a 
view to removing unnecessarily discursive text , Chapter 5.3. was revised to align it with 
established Code format and will be circul ated for member countries' consideration.  
1.1.3  Criteria 
1.8.  The work of developing criteria for assessing  the safety of commodities started last year in 
order to explain the basis of how the lists of safe commodities in disease specific chapters are developed. The revised draft, reflecting consideration of member countries' comments, will be circulated for member countries' further consideration. 
1.1.4  Compartments free from FMD with vaccination 
1.9.  In response to member countries' comments and following consultation with experts, a new 
article establishing "compartments free from FMD with vaccination" was drafted and will be 
circulated for member countries' consideration. If adopted in future, this will be a novel approach, 
as up to now vaccination within a compartment is not considered a biosecurity measure.  
1.1.5  African Swine Fever 
1.10.  Given the continuing challenges of controlling this disease in several parts of the world, 
there is a high level of interest in the revision of the current Terrestrial Code  chapter on "Infection 
with African swine fever virus". Since commencem ent of the work in 2014, there have been two 
rounds of consultation on a proposed revision of  the current chapter with member countries. The 
comments from the second round of consultation were examined by the Code Commission in 
February 2016. Considering the high number of comments received and subsequent substantial 
amendments made, including the restructuring of the article for free status, it was considered 
premature to propose the draft for adoption at May 2016 General Session. The latest amended 
draft will be sent for a further round of consultation with member countries. 
1.1.6  New Chapter of PRRS 
1.11.  The development of a chapter on infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory 
syndrome virus was discussed when the disease re-emerged in Asia in 2008 but did not begin until 2013 because of uncertainties about the pathways of global spread and inadequate diagnostic tests. The first draft of a new chapter circulated for member countries' consideration in 2014 
generated many comments that have now b een reviewed by experts and the Specialist 
Commissions. The amended draft will be circulated for member countries' further consideration. 
1.2  Aquatic Code and Manual 
1.2.1  Criteria for the inclusion of diseases in the OIE list (Chapter 1.2.) 
1.12.  The Aquatic Animals Commission considered member countries' comments and made 
relevant amendments also ensuring harmonisation of respective chapters in the Terrestrial  and 
Aquatic Code , as far as possible, noting that some differences are necessary due to the different 
circumstances of aquatic and terrestrial animal diseases. 
1.2.2  Infection with B. salamandrivorans  
1.13.  The Aquatic Animals Commission concluded that B. salamandrivorans , a fungal infection of 
salamanders with serious implications for biodiversity, meets the criteria for listing in Chapter 1.3. 
and is being proposed as an OIE listed disease. G/SPS/GEN/1478 
 
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  1.2.3  Acute hepatopancreat ic necrosis disease (AHPND) 
1.14.  New draft chapters for AHPND for both the Aquatic Code  and Aquatic Manual  have been 
circulated for member countries' comments. AHPND has resulted in significant mortalities in farmed shrimp in Asia and Latin America. 
1.2.4  Susceptible species 
1.15.  The list of susceptible species in disease-specific chapters of the Aquatic Code  are in the 
process of review based on the criteria for listing species as susceptible to infection with a specific 
pathogen as described in Chapter 1.5. 
2  THE SURVEY ON THE PARTICIPATION OF  VETERINARY SERVICES IN NATIONAL 
COMMITTEES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW TRADE FACILITATION AGREEMENT OF 
THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION 
2.1.  The OIE and the World Customs Organisation (WCO) revised their cooperation agreement in 
2015, aiming to strengthen cooperation and b oost collaboration between national Customs 
Administrations and Veterinary Services (VS) in matters of common interest. One of the key areas of common interest identified is the implementati on of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation 
(TFA), with a focus on Coor dinated Border Management. 
2.2.  As a first step, adjusting the model WCO questionnaire to OIE purposes, a survey was 
conducted among all member countries in order to raise awareness of the TFA among VS and to 
evaluate the current situation to enable consider ation of possible development of capacity-building 
activities. 
2.3.  The response rate has been rather low (49/180) as compared with general surveys 
conducted by the OIE. Among the 26 member country responses indicating that a National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF) had been established, 14 indicated that the VS had been 
invited to become an NCTF member. Further awareness-raising and participation of VS in NCTFs is 
being encouraged, and development of a joint Cu stoms Administration and Veterinary Services 
capacity building initiative on coordinated border management is being explored. 
3  THE FOURTH OIE GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON VETERINARY EDUCATION: IMPLEMENTING 
OIE GUIDELINES TO ENSURE THE EXCELLENCE OF THE VETERINARY PROFESSION 
3.1.  With the valuable contribution of the De partment of Livestock De velopment (as National 
Veterinary Authority) of the Kingdom of Thailand, the 4th OIE Global Conference on Veterinary Education will be held in Bangkok on 22–24 June 2016. 
3.2.  This Conference will address ways to furthe r improve the quality of the veterinary profession 
globally, through encouraging worldwide harmonisation of veterinary education based on OIE guidelines focusing on global Public Good aspects of veterinary activities. The discussions will 
extend to the need for closer collaboration be tween Veterinary Authorities (VAs), Veterinary 
Statutory Bodies (VSBs) and Veterinary Education Establishments (VEEs). The Conference will also 
take up the importance both of veterinarians' capacity to better face challenges not necessarily 
within the domain of veterinary science alone, and the availability of various innovative teaching 
methods. 
3.3.  Approximately 600 participants from all over the world are expected to attend the 
Conference. 
3.4.  Further information about the Conference is available at: http://www.oie.int/eng/vet-
education-conf2016/introduction.html . 
4  CAPACITY BUILDING USING THE OIE PVS PATHWAY 
4.1.  The OIE continues its global initiative to support member countries wishing to strengthen VS 
and Aquatic Animal Health Services (AAHS) using the OIE PVS Pathway. 
4.2.  A summary of OIE Members' engagement in the PVS Pathway may be found at Annex 1. G/SPS/GEN/1478 
 
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  ANNEX 1 
A SUMMARY OF PROGRESS ON PVS PATHWAY EVALUATIONS 
PVS Evaluation missions: State of play up to 1 March 2016 
 OIE members PVS 
Evaluation 
requests 
received PVS Evaluation 
missions 
implemented Reports 
available for 
restricted 
distribution to 
Donors and 
Partners Publication 
on the OIE 
website 
Africa 54 53 51 34 9 
Americas 29 25 24 10 9 
Asia, the Far 
East and Oceania 32 25 24 10 2 
Europe 53 19 19 10 1 
Middle East 12 13 11 5 1 
TOTAL 180 135 129 69 22 
 
PVS Evaluation missions of the AAHS: State of play up to 1 March 2016* 
 OIE members PVS 
Evaluation 
requests 
received PVS Evaluation 
missions 
implemented Reports 
available for 
restricted 
distribution to 
Donors and 
Partners Publication 
on the OIE 
website 
Africa 54 4 3 0 1 
Americas 29 7 3 0 0 
Asia, the Far 
East and Oceania 32 4 4 0 0 
Europe 53 1 0 0 0 
Middle East 12 1 0 0 0 
TOTAL 180 17 10 0 1 
* Including PVS Evaluation of the AAHS Follow-Up missions. 
 
PVS GAP Analysis missions: Stat e of play up to 1 March 2016* 
 OIE members PVS Gap 
Analysis 
requests 
received PVS Gap 
Analysis 
missions 
implemented Reports 
available for 
restricted 
distribution to 
Donors and 
Partners Publication 
on the OIE 
web site 
Africa 54 51 47 19 10 
Americas 29 18 13 5 4 
Asia, the Far 
East and Oceania 32 20 15 6 1 
Europe 53 9 8 3 1 
Middle East 12 10 4 0 0 
TOTAL 180 108 87 33 16 
* Including Second Gap Analysis missio ns and Aquatic Gap Analysis missions. 
 G/SPS/GEN/1478 
 
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  PVS Evaluation - Follow up missions:  State of play up to 1 March 2016* 
 OIE members PVS 
Evaluation 
Follow-Up 
requests 
received PVS Evaluation 
Follow-Up 
missions 
implemented Reports 
available for 
restricted 
distribution to 
Donors and 
Partners Publication 
on the OIE 
website 
Africa 54 15 13 1 2 
Americas 29 9 8 0 5 
Asia, the Far 
East and 
Oceania 32 7 5 1 2 
Europe 53 5 4 1 0 
Middle East 12 5 2 1 0 
TOTAL 180 41 32 4 9 
* Including Second Follow-Up missions. 
 
Veterinary Legislation - Support mission s: State of play up to 1 March 2016* 
 OIE 
members Veterinary 
Legislation 
Identification 
mission 
requests 
received Veterinary 
Legislation 
Identification 
missions 
implemented Veterinary 
Legislation 
Identification 
mission 
reports 
received Agreement 
requested Agreement 
signed 
Africa 54 41 28 26 7 3 
Americas 29 8 6 6 2 1 
Asia, the 
Far East and Oceania 32 7 6 6 1 0 
Europe 53 5 4 4 1 0 
Middle 
East 12 5 4 4 1 0 
TOTAL 180 66 48 46 12 4 
* Does not include (Pilot project) Botswana, SouthAfrica and 1st mision in Zambia. 
 
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