WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/1073 
16 March 2011 
 (11-1298) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English/ 
 French/  Spanish 
 
  
RELEVANT ACTIVITIES 
 
Communication from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)
 
 
  The following communication, received on 14 Marc h 2011, is being circulated at the request 
of the OIE
. 
 
_______________ 
 
  The OIE is pleased to provide this update for the information of SPS Committee Members.  The key topics covered in this paper are: 
1. Developments in the OIE's standard-setting wo rk, including the implications of adoption of 
the OIE 5th Strategic Plan in May 2010;  
2. An update on OIE activities under the OIE PVS Pathway, aimed at helping Members to 
improve their compliance with international st andards and thereby help to improve food 
safety and facilitate participation in interna tional trade in animals and animal products;  
3. Information on OIE global conferences in 2011. 
 
I. STANDARD SETTING  
1. The Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission (Code Commission) met on  
1-11 February 2011 to prepare new/revised Terrest rial Animal Health Code (Terrestrial Code) 
Chapters for adoption at the 79th General Session, May 2011. 
A. P
RIVATE STANDARDS  
2. Based on the work of an ad hoc expert group, the OIE has established a set of 
recommendations with the objective of helping to en sure that private standard setting organizations 
respect international standards of the OIE and th e Codex Alimentarius Commission.  Information on 
the OIE's activities and policy on private standard s can be found on the OIE internet site at:  
http://www.oie.int/international-standard- setting/implications-of-private-standards/ . 
3. The OIE continues to monitor developments in this area. 
B. OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT OF OFFICIAL C ONTROL PROGRAMMES FOR FOOT AND MOUTH 
DISEASE (FMD) 
4. The OIE has developed procedures for member s wishing to request OIE endorsement of 
official control programmes for FMD, with the objec tive of encouraging countries to take systematic G/SPS/GEN/1073 
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  steps towards the control and eradication of FM D in the national territory.  The procedures are 
proposed for adoption at the General Assembly in May 2011.  The OIE emphasises that this procedure 
is entirely voluntary.  It could provide a valuable  function for governments and donors that wish to 
establish reference programmes for funding at  national, regional and global levels  
C. OIE
 5TH STRATEGIC PLAN (2011-2016) 
5. In 2010 the OIE adopted its 5th Strategic Plan  (2011-2016).  In addition to maintaining a 
focus on the role of the OIE as a reference standard -setting organization to the WTO, the 5th Strategic 
Plan establishes new priorities in relation to w ildlife and the interface between humans, animals 
(domestic and wild animals) and ecosystems.  It also recognizes the risks of invasive species, especially in the context of climate change and emerging diseases.  
6. The WTO defines SPS measures with reference to "the protection of human, animal and plant 
health".  In considering the re lationship of invasive species to SPS measures, the OIE notes that the 
International Plant Protection Conve ntion (IPPC) covers not only diseases, but also pests and plants 
that are considered to be invasive species.  In c ontrast, the OIE has, to date, focused its standard 
setting work programme on listed diseases, based on crite ria that are adopted formally by the World 
Assembly of Delegates and published in the OIE Terrestrial and Aquatic Codes.  
7. The OIE participates in the Interagency Liaison Group (IALG) established by the secretariat 
of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).  At  the recent meeting of the IALG in Geneva, in 
February 2011, the CBD secretariat again raised con cerns about gaps in coverage of risks associated 
with invasive alien species.  The CBD Conference of  the Parties has requested that the OIE consider 
providing guidance on measures to address risks associ ated with invasive species that are not OIE 
listed disease agents (See http://www.cbd.int/decision/cop/?id=11647
).  The OIE is considering this 
request in consultation with members and elect ed Commissions, notably with respect to the 
implications for the organiza tion's mandate and resources. 
II. UPDATE ON THE OIE PVS PATHWAY 
A. OVERVIEW  
8. As part of the OIE global initiative for Good G overnance of Veterinary Services, and at a 
member's request, the OIE may conduct an evalua tion of the quality of a member's Veterinary 
Services using the OIE Tool for the Evaluation of  Performance of Veterinary Services (OIE PVS 
Tool).  As of 10 February 2011, 110 requests have been received and 91 per cent of the missions have 
been done. 
9. The current status of OIE PVS evaluations is summarized in Annex 1. 
10. The 5th edition of the OIE PVS Tool was published in 2010. 
11. The OIE has addressed the specia lized needs of aquatic animal health services (AAHS), with 
a pilot mission to a member and the development of a modified PVS Tool for the evaluation of 
AAHS.  The OIE encourages all countries with an inte rest in the export of aquatic animals and their 
products to consider requesting an assessment of AAHS as a basis to strengthen good governance and 
to reinforce the credibility of national certification arrangements. 
12. The steps in the OIE PVS Pathway are illustrated in the following graphic. 
  G/SPS/GEN/1073 
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B. PVS  GAP ANALYSIS  
13. The PVS Gap Analysis is a quantification of needs and the corresponding indicative budget to 
address compliance for priority critical competencies  discussed with the country concerned and based 
on the report of the initial PVS evaluation of the coun try.  The OIE, working in close cooperation with 
national policy makers, donors and other partner or ganizations, conducts PVS Gap Analysis missions 
as the basis for the preparation of investment programmes, following an initial PVS Evaluation.  
14. The current status of PVS Gap Analysis missions is summarised in Annex 2. 
C. VETERINARY LEGISLATION  
15. Members may request a specific mission to evaluate  the national veterinary legislation and, if 
appropriate, the implementation of an agreement w ith the OIE providing expert assistance over a one- 
to two-year period to help strengthen the veterina ry legislation.  Normally, the Legislation mission 
would take place after a PVS assessment, where this has detected gaps or inconsistencies in the 
veterinary legislation.  Members may also request  a PVS Gap Analysis mission to be undertaken in 
parallel, to help secure investments from govern ments and donors to strengthen the veterinary 
legislation by bringing it into closer alignment with  the international quality standards of the OIE.  
16. The current status of OIE legislation missions is summarised in Annex 3. 
17. The OIE held the First Global Conference on Veterinary Legislation in Djerba, Tunisia, on  
7-9 December 2010.  Representatives of more th an 120 countries attended the conference, which 
welcomed close to 400 participants.  The confer ence highlighted the significance of veterinary 
legislation as a cornerstone of national good veterinary governance and infrastructure.  It was recognized that many countries of the world - especially developing countries – do not have 
veterinary legislation that is adequate to address th e animal health and welfare challenges of today and 
future years.  G/SPS/GEN/1073 
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  18. The Djerba conference recommendations are available on the OIE website:  
"http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Confer ences_Events/docs/pdf/recommendations/ANG_Reco
mmendations.pdf ". 
D. VETERINARY EDUCATION  
19. At the request of members, the OIE is de veloping recommendations on the very important 
topic of veterinary education.  Members of the OI E have identified a need, especially for developing 
countries, to improve the quality of veterinary edu cation, including veterinarians in both the public 
and the private sector.  The OIE Global Conferen ce on Veterinary Educatio n "Evolving veterinary 
education for a safer world", which took place in Paris on 12-14 October 2009, was the first step in 
the development of a global OIE strategy, including the concept of a core curriculum, to support high 
quality veterinary education.  Following the conference, the OIE convened an ad hoc  expert group to 
address the recommendations of the conference.  The Group held two meetings in 2010 and 
developed recommendations regarding the key compet encies needed by new veterinary graduates to 
perform the necessary OIE and public policy tasks, notably those defined in the OIE Codes , taking 
into account contemporary threats and oppor tunities and societal expectations.  
20. The recommendation of the Conference may be found at:  
"http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Conferen ces_Events/sites/deans2009/Conclusions_and_reco
mmendations_FINAL_30_novembre_09_ANG_b.pdf ". 
21. As part of the celebration of 250 years of the veterinary profession in 2011, the 2nd Global 
Conference on Veterinary Education will be he ld in Lyon, France on 13–14 May 2011.  This 
conference will feature presentations on the OIE's work  to strengthen initial and continuous veterinary 
education.  
22. Information may be found at the internet site:  " http://blanc.vet-
lyon.fr/test/cmev2011/?q=node/56 ". 
III. OIE GLOBAL CONFERENCES IN 2011 
A. WILDLIFE ANIMAL HEALTH AND BIODIVERSITY , PARIS, 23-25  FEBRUARY 2011 
23. Around 400 participants attende d this very successful conference.  It was generally 
acknowledged that the need to feed a growing huma n population, the globalized movement of people 
and goods and human impact on the environment, all fu el serious health risks for the health of humans 
and animals, both domestic and wild  animals, and for biodiversity.  
24. Veterinary Services and partners have a pivot al role.  Participants at the conference 
recommended an enhanced cross-sector communica tion and cooperation among all relevant, parties 
including the tourism industry and relevant NGOs such as foundations, naturalists, hunters and 
fishermen associations and many others, to ensure  coordinated risk management approaches at the 
wildlife / domestic animal / human ecosystems interface.  
B. AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH PROGRAMMES :  THEIR BENEFITS FOR GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY 
PANAMA CITY, PANAMA , 28-30  JUNE 2011 
25. The conference will provide a forum for OIE memb ers and other participants to exchange the 
latest information on a science-based  approach to the management of aquatic animal health and food 
safety at the production level.  Key topics of the conference include: 
• roles and responsibilities of Aquatic Animal Health Services and Veterinary Services;  G/SPS/GEN/1073 
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  • awareness of the OIE standards and recommendations for aquatic animals and practical 
advice on how to comply with the standards; 
• the education of veterinarians and aquatic anim al health professionals in the public and the 
private sector on their role and responsibilities;  
• improvement of governance of Veterinary Serv ices and Aquatic Animal Health Services 
using the OIE PVS Pathway. 
26. For further information see:  http://www.oie.int/eng/A_aquatic/home.htm  
C. RABIES CONTROL :  TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE PREVENTION AT THE SOURCE SEOUL , KOREA  
7–9 SEPTEMBER 2011 
27. This conference will address good governance de cisions on the distribution of public or 
private, local, national and international resources fo r priority actions to address rabies at the animal-
human interface.  The benefit of preventive interven tion at the animal source, in comparison to post-
exposure medical treatment, will be highlighted.  The conference will discuss success stories in the 
control of rabies, including diagnosis, vaccinati on and control of relevant  animal populations, and 
governance systems for Veterinary Services, Pub lic Health Services, municipalities, NGOs and 
relevant stakeholders in the public and priv ate sector.  For further information, see:  
http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Conf erences_Events/docs/pdf/rage_Annonce.pdf  G/SPS/GEN/1073 
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  ANNEX 1 
 
PVS Evaluation Missions (as at 7 February 2011)
 
  
Region Official requests Missions 
completed Reports available
Africa 47 43 33 
Americas 21 20 15 
Asia/Pacific 17 14 11 
Europe 13 12 10 
Middle-East 12 11 4 
Total 110 100 73 
 
*Official requests: 
 
Africa (47):  Algeria, Benin, Botswana,  Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, 
Chad, Côte D'Ivoire, Congo (DR), Djibouti, Egypt , Equatorial Guinea , Eritrea,  Ethiopia, 
Gabon , Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho,  Liberia (non-OIE 
member), Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Maurit ania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, 
Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal,  Sierra Leone , Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, 
Swaziland,  Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
Americas (21):  Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, 
Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, 
Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago,  Uruguay 
Asia/Pacific (17):  Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran, Korea (PDR),  
Lao (PDR), Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Timor  Leste , 
Viet Nam 
Europe (13):  Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia Herzegovina , Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, 
Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Tajikist an, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 
Middle-East (12):  Afghanistan, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait,  Lebanon, Oman, Palestinian A.T . (non-OIE 
member),  Qatar,  Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen 
 Italics:  Completed missions 
  G/SPS/GEN/1073 
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  ANNEX 2 
 
PVS Gap Analysis Missions (as at 7 February 2011 ) 
  
Region Official requests Missions 
completed 
Africa 30 18 
Americas 9 4 
Asia/Pacific 12 7 
Europe 5 3 
Middle-East 6 2 
Total 62 34 
 G/SPS/GEN/1073 
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  ANNEX 3 
 
Legislation Missions (as at 7 February 2011
) 
 
 
Region Official requests Missions 
completed 
Africa 17 10 
Americas 2 2 
Asia/Pacific 4 3 
Europe 3 1 
Middle-East 4 3 
Total 30 19 
  Official requests:  Africa (17):  Benin, Burkina Faso, Congo (DR), Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon , Guinea-Bissau,  
Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Nigeria, Sudan, Togo , Uganda, Zambia 
Americas (2):  Bolivia, Honduras  
Asia/Pacific (4):  Bhutan, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Viet Nam  
Europe (3):  Armenia, Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan 
Middle-East (4 ):  Afghanistan, Kuwait , Lebanon,  United Arab Emirates 
 
Italics:  Completed missions  
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