G/SPS/GEN/1440  
 
28 September 2015  
(15-4999)  Page: 1/4  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English/French/Spanish  
 
 64TH MEETING OF THE SPS COMMITTEE 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE WORLD ORGA NISATION FOR ANIMAL HEALTH (OIE) 
The following communication, received on 25 Septem ber 2015, is being circulated at the request 
of the OIE. 
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The OIE is pleased to provide this update to the 64th meeting of the SPS Committee. 
The report summarises key developments in the OIE standard-setting work programme, along 
with a summary of progress with the Global Heal th Security Agenda, and an updated summary of 
the OIE PVS Capacity Building programme. 
The full reports of the September and October 2015  meetings of the Terrestrial Animal Health 
Standards Commission (Code Commission) and the Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission 
will be available on the OIE website shortly. Key topics addressed at these meetings included: 
1  GLOSSARY DEFINITIONS FOR OIE STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES 1.1.  Although the terms OIE Standards and OIE Guidelines are commonly used, they have never 
been precisely defined. Following discussion between the Specialist Commissions, definitions for 
OIE Standards and Guidelines have been developed for member countries' consideration. Once a glossary definition for these terms has been adop ted by the OIE World Assembly of Delegates, the 
use of these words throughout the Codes  and Manuals  will be reviewed to align with the adopted 
definitions. 
2  INFECTION WITH AFRICAN SWINE FEVER VIRUS 2.1.  An ad hoc group was convened in 2014 to revise the current Terrestrial Code  chapter on 
"Infection with African swine fever virus", and circulated for member countries' comments in 
February 2015. Given the continuing challenges of controlling this disease in several parts of the 
world, there is a high level of interest in this revision which was reflected in the number of 
comments received on the draft revision. The Code Commission amended the draft revision in 
response to member countries' comments, and it is  hoped this revised chapter can be proposed for 
adoption at the May 2016 General Session. 
3  CRITERIA 
3.1.  Following the adoption of the definition of safe commodities in May 2015, the Code 
Commission has developed a draft chapter on the criteria to be used for assessing the safety of commodities for member countries' consideration (as in Chapter 5.4 of the Aquatic Code ). As 
noted previously, this work is expected to more clearly highlight instances of inappropriate use of 
unwarranted sanitary measures for all of those commo dities specifically identified as safe in the 
various disease specific chapters. G/SPS/GEN/1440 
 
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  4  INFECTION WITH BURKHOLDERIA MALLEI  (GLANDERS) 
4.1.  Again there is a high level of interest in the comprehensive revision of this chapter, reflected 
in the volume of member countries' comments. The Code Commission amended the draft revision in response to member countries' comments, and it is hoped this revised chapter can be proposed 
for adoption at the May 2016 General Session. 
5  MODEL CERTIFICATE FOR ELITE COMPETITION HORSES 
5.1.  Development of this certificate is expected to facilitate the implementation of the recently 
adopted chapter on the high health status horse population. Again there is a high level of interest 
in this work in advance of the 2016 Olympic Games. 
6  GENERIC WORK ON ZONING, VACCINAT ION, VACCINATION PROGRAMME, EMERGENCY 
VACCINATION AND ROUTINE VACCINATION 
6.1.  Although this work is still at an early stage of development, the aim is to develop OIE 
definitions and standards under these headings that will facilitate and guid e efficient and effective 
disease outbreak management for many OIE listed diseases. 
7  GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY AGENDA: MOVING FORWARD TO A SAFER WORLD 
7.1.  Twelve months after the White House meetin g in September 2014, the Global Health Security 
Agenda High Level Meeting in Seoul (Republic of Korea) on 7-9 September 2015 provided the 
opportunity to take stock of the progress made and re-affirm the future steps to be achieved 
within the Agenda. Once again, GHSA participating countries were called upon to make an effort to strengthen their existing national health systems and to fully and rapidly comply with international standards and obligations including the WHO International Health Regulations (IHR) and quality of 
veterinary services using existing tools, notabl y the OIE's Performance of Veterinary Services 
Pathway (PVS) and global information systems such as OIE/WAHIS, with regards to animal health. 
8  OVERVIEW OF THE MAIN ADVANCES SUPPORTING THE GHSA ACHIEVED BY THE OIE 
SINCE 2014 
8.1.  The OIE PVS Pathway is an expert-led objective assessment and analysis of the ability and 
resources of National Veterinary Services to meet OIE international quality standards. This is the 
most critical factor in preventing and detectin g the spread of dangerous pathogens of animal 
origin, and of prime importance to the success of the GHSA "Detect" and "Prevent" Action Packages. There have been PVS Pathway Missions conducted by the OIE in 130 countries. 
8.2.  Progress has been made in the WHO-IHR/OIE-PVS joint initiative to enable the development 
of national strategies to enhance capacities in both the human and animal health sectors. In 
December 2014, the WHO-IHR/OIE-PVS Operational Guide for national Good Governance at the 
Human-Animal Interface was published. Together, WHO and OIE have now identified a significant 
number of countries eligible for additional Joint National Working Sessions. 
8.3.  The OIE has furthered the knowledge of it s global network through the training of OIE 
National Delegates and National Focal Points, the latter of which includes, among others, 
Veterinary Laboratory and for animal disease notification. Hundreds of national policy makers have 
already benefited from that initiative. 
8.4.  At its World Assembly annual General Session  this May, the OIE initiated an expansion and 
improvement of "WAHIS" – World Animal Health Information System, with the adoption of a 
Resolution pertaining to "the use of information technology in animal health management, disease 
reporting, surveillance and emergency response". 180 OIE member countries are committed to report 117 listed-animal diseases (including zoon oses) and emerging events, and this information 
is immediately shared with GLEWS, the Global Early Warning System, which coordinates alert and 
disease intelligence mechanisms of OIE, FAO and WHO to assist in prediction, prevention and control of disease threats of animal origin. This new WAHIS expansion will further enhance the 
reporting of global animal disease information critical to the protection of global health security. G/SPS/GEN/1440 
 
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  8.5.  The OIE Laboratory Twinning Programme links candidate laboratories in developing or in-
transition countries with OIE Reference Laboratories or Collaborating Centres; building their capacity and scientific expertise. It also provides  a pathway for the creation of more OIE Reference 
Laboratories with greater regional and geographic balance. More than 50 twinnings have been 
established. 
8.6.  During this past year, the OIE has worked continuously to collaboratively plan and implement 
measures to fight anti-microbial resistance. Examples of this collaboration include: OIE 
contribution to the WHO-led AMR Global Action Plan; revision of the OIE List of Antimicrobial 
Agents of Veterinary Importance; and importantl y, the adoption of updated standards on the 
prudent use of antibiotics in animals and of an AM R Resolution at its May 2015 World Assembly, to 
institute an OIE global database on the use of antimicrobial agents in animals in Member Countries 
as provided for in the WHO Global Action Plan. 
8.7.  The OIE has also expanded its efforts to improve animal biosecurity and biosurveillance 
through its collaboration on issues such as the tr ansport of biological samples, Rinderpest post-
eradication measures, biosecurity guidelines for laboratories and the OIE Global Biological Threat 
Reduction Conference bridging the security and health communities held in Paris on 30 June-2 July of this year. 
9  OIE PVS CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMME 
9.1.  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 by following the PVS Pathway. A summary of progress on PVS Pathway missions is provided in the attached 
Annex. G/SPS/GEN/1440 
 
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  ANNEX 
A SUMMARY OF PROGRESS ON PVS PATHWAY EVALUATIONS 
PVS Evaluation missions: State of play (22 September 2015) 
 OIE members PVS Evaluation 
requests 
received PVS Evaluation 
missions 
implemented Reports 
available for 
(restricted) 
distribution to 
Donors and 
Partners 
Africa 54 53 51 43 
Americas 29 25 24 19 
Asia, the Far East 
and Oceania 32 25 22 11 
Europe 53 19 18 11 
Middle East 12 13 11 6 
TOTAL 180 135 126 90 
 
PVS Gap Analysis: State of play (22 September 2015) 
 OIE members PVS Gap 
Analysis 
requests 
received PVS Gap 
Analysis 
missions 
implemented Reports 
available for 
(restricted) 
distribution to 
Donors and 
Partners 
Africa 54 47 43 28 
Americas 29 17 12 9 
Asia, the Far East 
and Oceania 32 19 14 7 
Europe 53 9 8 3 
Middle East 12 10 4 0 
TOTAL 180 102 81 47 
 
Veterinary Legislation: State of play (22 September 2015) 
 OIE members PVS Legislation 
mission requests 
received PVS Legislation 
missions 
implemented 
Africa 54 41 24 
Americas 29 7 6 
Asia, the Far East and 
Oceania 32 6 6 
Europe 53 5 4 
Middle East 12 5 4 
TOTAL 180 64 44 
 
 
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