G/SPS/GEN/1543  
 
14 March 2017  
(17-1466) Page: 1/8 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English/French/Spanish  
 
68TH MEETING OF THE SPS C OMMITTEE  
COMMUNICATION FROM T HE WORLD ORGANISATIO N FOR ANIMAL HEALTH (OIE)  
The following communication, received on 10 March 2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
OIE. 
_______________  
 
 
The World Organisation for Animal H ealth (OIE) is pleased to provide this report for the 
information of WTO Members attending the 68th meeting of the SPS Committee.  
The report summarises key developments in the OIE's standard -setting work programme, along 
with updates on the OIE's Capacity  Building activities.  
1  DEVELOPMENTS IN THE OIE STANDARDS FOR TE RRESTRIAL AND AQUATI C ANIMALS  
1.1.  The full reports of the four Specialist Commission meetings will be available on the OIE 
website by the end of March 2017. Following is a summary of key outcomes.  
1.2.  The Biological Standards Commission met from 7 to 10 February 2017 and reviewed 
comments from member countries  and experts on the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for 
Terrestrial Animals . It revised twenty -one chapters as well as the Glossary. These will be circulated 
for second -round member country  comment and eventual proposal for adoption by the Assembly 
in May 2017.  
1.3.  The Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases met f rom 13 to 17 February 2017. 
The Scientific Commission examined technical question s from member countries  on specific 
Terrestrial Animal Health Code  (Terrestrial Code ) chapters under discussion. Advice in relation to 
the questions was forwarded to the Code Commission for its consideration. The Scientific 
Commission reviewed the opinion of the OIE experts and other available scientific information 
including the Working Group on Wildlife to:  
 Assess whether or not chronic wasting disease of cervids (CWD) matched the criteria to 
be included in the OIE list of diseases;  
 Develop a MERS -Cov cas e definition for camelids to support member countries  in their 
reporting obligations to the OIE.  
1.4.  Antimicrobial resistance ad hoc  Group report: the Group proposed the way forward for the 
second round of collection of data on the use of antimicrobial agents in animals and also proposed 
to define "growth promotion", "preventative use" and "therapeutic use"  for the purpose of 
Chapter  6.8. The proposal was forwarded to the Code Commission for consideration in reviewing 
Chapter 6.8. with an additional specificati on on preventative use.  
1.1  Official recognition of disease status  
1.5.  The Scientific Commission evaluated 27 new applications from 21 member countries  for 
official recognition of disease status and endorsement of official control programmes.  G/SPS/GEN/1543  
 
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  1.6.  In terms of official status maintenance, the Scientific Commission comprehensively reviewed 
10% of annual reconfirmations for official status and all annual reconfirmations of member 
countries ’ endorsed national official programmes. A report of all annual reconfirmations inclu ding 
those reviewed by the Scientific Commission and those reviewed by the OIE Status Department 
will be annexed to the February 2017 report of the Scientific Commission.  
1.7.  The Scientific Commission was informed on the progress made in the revision of the St andard 
Operating Procedures related to Status recognition.  
1.8.  The Scientific Commission endorsed a draft resolution related to the progressive elimination 
or sequestration of FMD serotype C to be presented at the for thcoming General Session in 
May 2017.  
1.9.  The A quatic Animal Health Standards Commission met from 22 February to 2 March 2017 
and reviewed member country  comments and prepared new and revised texts for the Aquatic 
Animal Health Code  (Aquatic Code ) and the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals  
(Aquatic Manual ). The Commission revised fourteen chapters and the Glossary in the Aquatic Code  
and seven chapters in the Aquatic Manual  which will be proposed for adoption at the 85th General 
Session in May 2017.  
1.10.   The OIE draws the attention of WTO Members  to the following important developments in 
the Terrestrial Code  and Aquatic Code . As reported at the October 2016 SPS Committee meeting, 
the following chapters and the Glossary were circulated for member country  comments, these are 
now being proposed for adoption by the Assembly in May 2017.  
1.2  Aquatic Code  
1.2.1   Criteria for the inclusion of diseases in the OIE list (Chapter 1.2.)  
1.11.   The revised chapter which is aligned with the corresponding chapter in the Terrestrial Code  
will be proposed for adoption.  
1.2.2   Proposed lis ting of infection with B. salamandrivorans  (Bsal) 
1.12.   The Aquatic Animals Commission agreed that the criteria for listing have been met and will 
propose that Bsal be added to the OIE list of diseases in Chapter 1.3.  
1.2.3   General obligations related to certification  (Chapter 5.1.)  
1.13.   In response to a number of member country  comments, Article 5.1.4. was amended to 
improve consistency with the corresponding article of the Terrestrial Code  and will be proposed for 
adoption.  
1.2.4   List of susceptible species  
1.14.   The new criteria for  listing species as susceptible to infection with a specific pathogen 
(described in Chapter 1.5.) has been applied to the crustacean disease -specific chapters in the 
Aquatic Code  and has resulted in the amendment of the list in Article X.X.2. of some of th ese 
chapters.  
1.15.   A new disease -specific chapter for acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease in the Aquatic 
Code and Manual  will be proposed for adoption.  
1.2.5   Glossary  
1.16.   The definition for zone was revised taking into account the existing definition of 
compartment  in the Aquatic Code , and amendments being proposed for the term zone in the 
Terrestrial Code . G/SPS/GEN/1543  
 
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  1.17.   The Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission (Cod e Commission) met from 12 to 
24 February 2017 and reviewed comments from member countries  and advice provide d by experts 
(including ad hoc Groups and the Scientific Commission) and prepared new and revised texts for 
the Terrestrial Code . The Commission finalised eighteen revised and new chapters for adoption by 
the Assembly in May 2017 as previously indicated in  the report of their September 2016 meeting. 
It considered a further seventeen new or revised chapters as well as the Glossary and work 
programme which will be circulated for member country  comments and considered at its 
September 2017 meeting. Further det ail on the Terrestrial Code  chapters being proposed for 
adoption is below.  
1.3  Terrestrial Code  
1.3.1   New chapter on criteria applied by the OIE for asse ssing the safety of 
commodities  
1.18.   Following member countries ' comments on the glossary definition of "safe commodit y" 
adopted in 2015, the Code Commission developed a draft chapter on the criteria to be used by the 
OIE ad hoc  Groups and specialist commissions in the process of evaluating the safety of certain 
commodities. This chapter is to ensure consistency in the de velopment of a list of "safe 
commodities " for which specific measures are not required, regardless of the status of the 
exporting country or zone for the disease. The new chapter is to be proposed for adoption in May 
2017.  
1.3.2   New chapters on prevention and co ntrol of Salmonella  in bovines and pigs  
1.19.   These chapters have been drafted to align the Terrestrial Code  with the recent Codex work 
on Salmonella  spp. in bovines and pigs ( Guidelines for the Control of Non -typhoidal Salmonella  
spp. in Beef and Pork Meat (CAC /GL 87 -2016) ). The Code Commission emphasized that these 
chapters are intended to provide guidance for the prevention and control of Salmonella  and are not 
intended to be used as conditions for trade. The new chapters are to be proposed for adoption in 
May 2017.  
1.3.3   New chapter on infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis  complex  
1.20.   The chapters on tuberculosis (Chapter 11.6 on bovine tuberculosis and Chapter 11.7 on 
bovine tuberculosis of farmed Cervidae) have been merged into a single multispecies chapter with 
management options per species affected. The Code Commission noted that the inclusion of 
Mycobacterium bovis , M. caprae  and M. tuberculosis  in the chapter was intended to manage the 
human and animal health risks associated with the disease. The new chapter is to be proposed for 
adoption in May 2017.  
1.3.4   New chapter on infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome 
virus  
1.21.   The Code Commission has completed its work on the development of the new porcine 
reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) chap ter, an important disease of pigs. The new 
chapter is to be proposed for adoption in May 2017.  
1.3.5   Revision of chapter on infection with lumpy skin disease (Chapter 11.11.)  
1.22.   In response to member countries'  comments and following consultation with experts, the 
Code Commission has undertaken a comprehensive revision of this chapter. The Code Commission 
noted that the current chapter is outdated and of no significant use to member countries  dealing 
with lumpy skin disease and that update of the chapter is needed a s a matter of urgency. The 
revised chapter is to be proposed for adoption in May 2017.  
1.3.6   Revision of chapter on infection with African swine fever virus (Chapter 15.1.)  
1.23.   Since the beginning of the revision of this chapter in 2014, a significant number of memb er 
countries  comments had been received. A major review of the chapter on African swine fever has 
now been completed and the revised chapter is to be proposed for adoption in May 2017.  G/SPS/GEN/1543  
 
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  1.3.7   Revision of chapter on the OIE procedures relevant to WTO SPS Agreement  
(Chapter 5.3.)  
1.24.   The Code Commission has updated and revised Chapter 5.3. to take into account comments 
of recent WTO DSB panels and to remove unnecessarily text, and further align the chapter with 
established Terrestrial Code  format. This chapter sets out the obligations of importing and 
exporting countries and the OIE procedures relevant to the SPS Agreement, and contains the key 
SPS concepts, such as equivalence, zoning and compartmentalisation, which should be considered 
as the basis for sanitary measure s to facilitate safe trade. The revised chapter is to be proposed 
for adoption in May 2017.  
1.4  Future work  
1.4.1   Revision of chapter on infection with avian influenza viruses (Chapter 10.4.)  
1.25.   Given the increasing problems being experienced by member countries  in the  trade of 
commodities in relation to outbreaks of avian influenza, the Code Commission proposes to 
undertake a general revision of the chapter and has include d it in its work programme. 
The revision will take into account the differing risk mitigating meas ures when responding to low 
pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) or high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) and examine the 
need to include articles on safe commodities, recovery of free status and whether there is a need 
to expand on surveillance requir ements.  
1.4.2   Revision of chapter on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (Chapter 11.4.)  
1.26.   The Code Commission and the Scientific Commission also noted that the Terrestrial Code  
Chapter on BSE was in need of an extensive revision and included it on their work program mes. 
2  CAPACITY BUILDING AC TIVITIES  
2.1  Implementation of Standards Workshops  
2.1.  With the assistance of funding provided by Australia and the EU, the OIE is planning a series 
of workshops on the development and the implementation of standards in the OIE Terrestrial  
Code. To support the delivery of these workshops the OIE plans to develop training modules 
including an e -learning platform. As OIE standards also address aquatic animals it is proposed that 
an "overview " module be created to provide a summary of the OIE with respect to the 
development of the OIE international standards, including the standard setting process and the 
context of the WTO SPS Agreement.  
2.2.  The target audience for these workshops is representatives from the Veterinary Services who 
work in the are a of import/export of animals and their products, in particular those that are 
involved in the development and implementation of national rules and regulations as well as 
compliance and enforcement.  
2.3.  Initial funding has been provided for three workshops, Mi ddle East (March), Asia (June) and 
Americas (August).  
2.2  OIE PVS Pathway  
2.4.  The OIE continues its global initiative to support member countries  wishing to strengthen 
Veterinary Services and Aquatic Animal Health Services (AAHS) using the OIE PVS Pathway.  
2.5.  Over 13 6 member countries  actively engaged via requesting an OIE PVS Evaluation mission, 
with over 100 of those also requesting the next step of an OIE PVS Gap Analysis mission, and 
nearly 50 requesting a second round through a PVS Evaluation Follow -up mission.  
2.6.  Contrary to a prevailing myth that the PVS Pathway was only suitable for developing 
countries, recent years have seen interest and full, active engagement from highly developed 
nations including Australia (OIE PVS Evaluation mission in 2015), Japan (OIE PVS  Evaluation G/SPS/GEN/1543  
 
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  mission in 2016) and Canada (OIE PVS Evaluation mission in 2017). This is all firmly aligned with 
OIE’s core mission of improving animal health and welfare around the world.  
2.7.  In 2017, the OIE is also planning a review of its flagship PVS Pathway  programme to ensure 
that it continues to evolve to best serve the needs of its member countries  and to set directions for 
an even brighter PVS Pathway future.  
2.8.  A summary of OIE member countries ' engagement in the PVS Pathway may be found at 
Annex 1.  
2.3  Region al Seminars for OIE National Focal Points  
2.9.  OIE capacity -building activities also include Information Seminars for Recently Appointed OIE 
Delegates and Regional Seminars for OIE National Focal Points appointed for eight different areas 
(Animal Disease Notifi cation to the OIE, Veterinary Products, Communication, Animal Production 
Food Safety, Animal Welfare, Veterinary Laboratories, Wildlife and Aquatic Animals). The aim of 
this programme is to provide good governance concepts for improving animal health, anim al 
welfare and food safety of animal -origin products at the national, regional and international levels, 
and to explain and clarify the role and responsibilities of newly -appointed OIE Delegates and of 
OIE national focal points with respect to OIE activiti es. 
2.10.   A revised list of regional seminars scheduled for 2017 is attached as Annex 2.  G/SPS/GEN/1543  
 
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  ANNEX  1 
A SUMMARY OF PROGRES S ON PVS PATHWAY EVA LUATIONS  
PVS Evaluation missions: State of play up to 1  March 2017  
 OIE members  PVS 
Evaluation 
requests 
received  PVS Evaluat ion 
missions 
implemented  Reports 
available for 
restricted 
distribution to 
Donors and 
Partners  Publication 
on the OIE 
website 
Africa  54 53 51 34 9 
Americas  29 26 24 10 9 
Asia, the Far 
East and 
Oceania  32 25 25 11 3 
Europe  53 19 19 10 1 
Middle East  12 13 11 5 1 
TOTAL  180 136 130 70 23 
 
PVS Evaluation missions  of the A quatic Animal Health Services*: State of play up to 
1 March 2017  
 OIE members  PVS 
Evaluation 
requests 
received  PVS Evaluation 
missions 
implemented  Reports 
available for 
restricted 
distribu tion 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 3 3 0 0 
Europe  53 1 1 0 0 
Middle East  12 1 0 0 0 
TOTAL  180 16 10 0 1 
* Does not i nclud e PVS Evaluation of the AAHS Follow-Up missions  (1). 
 
PVS GAP Analysis missions*: State of play up to 1 March 2017  
 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 52 49 20 11 
Americas  29 18 13 5 5 
Asia, the Far 
East and 
Oceania  32 21 15 7 2 
Europe  53 9 9 3 1 
Middle East  12 10 4 0 0 
TOTAL  180 110 90 35 19 
* Including Second Gap Analysis missions and Aquatic Gap Analysis missions.  
 G/SPS/GEN/1543  
 
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  PVS Evaluation - Follow up missions*: State of play up to 1 March 2017  
 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 17 16 1 3 
Americas  29 9 8 0 5 
Asia, the Far 
East and 
Oceania  32 9 7 1 2 
Europe  53 7 4 2 0 
Middle East  12 6 3 1 0 
TOTAL  180 48 38 5 10 
* Including Second Follow -Up (2) and Evaluation Follow -Up of the AAHS (1) missions . 
 
Veterina ry Legislation  Support missions*: State of play up to 1 March 2017  
 OIE 
members  Veterinary 
Legislation 
Identificati on 
mission  
requests 
received  Veterinary 
Legislation 
Identification 
missions 
implemented  Veterinary 
Legislation 
Identification 
mission 
reports  
received  Agreement 
requested  Agreement 
signed  
Africa  54 41 35 35 10 5 
Americas  29 9 7 7 3 1 
Asia, the 
Far East 
and 
Oceania  32 7 7 7 1 1 
Europe  53 5 4 4 2 1 
Middle 
East 12 5 4 4 1 0 
TOTAL  180 67 57 57 17 8 
* Does not include (Pilot project) Botswana , South  Africa and 1st mision in Zambia.  
 Mozambique: Veterinary Legislation Identification mission report available on the OIE website . G/SPS/GEN/1543  
 
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  ANNEX  2 
Dates  Title Venue  
17–19 January 
2017 Regional Workshop: Training of OIE National Focal 
Points for Wildlife (4th Cycle)  Lomé, Togo  
21–23 March 2017  Regional Workshop: Training of OIE National Focal 
Points for Wildlife (4th Cycle)  Asunción, Paraguay  
23–25 April 2017  Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for 
Animal Welfare  Chisinau, Moldova , 
Republic of  
20–May 2017  Regional Information Seminar for Recently 
Appointed OIE Delegates  Paris, France  
27–29 June 2017  Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for 
Veterinary Laboratories  Ljubljana, Slovenia  
4–6 July 2017  Regional Seminar for OIE National Foc al Points for 
Wildlife  Indonesia  
October TBC  Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for 
Communication  Latvia  
7–9 November 
2017 Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for 
Veterinary Products  TBC (Americas)  
5–7 December 
2017 Regional Semin ar for OIE National Focal Points for 
Veterinary Products  Swaziland  
December TBC  Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for 
Aquatic Animals  Saudi Arabia , Kingdom 
of 
TBC Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for 
Aquatic Animals  China  
TBC Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for 
Aquatic Animals  Americas  
 
 
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