WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/550 
4 March 2005 
 (05-0929) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English/ 
 French/  Spanish 
 
  
LIST OF SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND TECHNICAL MEETINGS 
ORGANIZED BY THE OIE IN 2004 AND PLANNED FOR 2005 
 
Communication from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)
 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 1 March 2005, is being circulated at the request of the 
OIE. 
 
_______________ 
  
 G/SPS/GEN/550 
Page 2 Seminars and workshops in each region 
Title Purpose Date Pa rticipants Location 
The Meeting of the OIE Regional 
Representatives  To exchange opinions and information between the 
OIE Headquarters and Regional Representations in 
order to better promote OIE policies with OIE 
Member countries.   12-14 January 2004 
10-12 January 2005 All OIE Regional Representatives 
(Africa, Asia and The Pacific,  
Eastern Europe, Middle East) and the 
SEAFMD project Coordinator. Paris (OIE 
Headquarters) 
 
AFRICA  
OIE/AU-IBAR Seminar on the 
Implementation of animal health standards: the quest for solutions 
in the Africa and Middle East 
Regions  
This seminar was organised by the 
OIE Regional Commissions for 
Africa and the Middle East and the AU-IBAR, with the collaboration of 
the FAO.  To discuss:  
- International standards for trade in animals 
and animal products and their impact on inter-
regional trade;  
- New concept of 'export zones' for livestock 
trade;  
- Controlling livestock movements to prevent 
the spread of transboundary animal diseases; 
- Quality of inter-regional trade certification; 
- The role of para-professionals in supplying 
animal health services, in particular for 
surveillance and early warning; 
- The private sector and trade in livestock and 
animal products; 
- Strengthening regional coordination for 
accreditation of freedom from rinderpest and 
foot and mouth disease; 
- OIE standards on the quality and evaluation of 
Veterinary Services; 
- The possible involvement of NEPAD1 and 
AOAD2 in the field of animal health in the two 
regions; 
- Implementation of the GF-TADs3 concept 
between the FAO and the Regional 
Representations of the OIE in Africa and the 
Middle East; 
- Implementation of the Doha Declaration; 
- Convincing policy-makers to strengthen 
investment in disease control programmes. 11-13 October 2004 173 participants from 59 OIE Member 
countries from Middle East and Africa.  
Several international and regional 
organisations were also present.  Cairo (Egypt)  
  G/SPS/GEN/550
 Page 3Title Purpose Date Pa rticipants Location 
AFRICA (cont'd)  
Regional workshop on Rift Valley 
Fever (RVF)  
Follow up of the workshop held in 
Eastern Africa (Nairobi, Kenya) in 2003 
 To search for satisfactory solutions to ensure the 
sanitary safety of international trade in livestock 
products. 
 20-22 January 2004 Countries of Western Africa. 
OIE, FAO, UA/IBAR, PACE. Dakar  (Senegal) 
Meeting with the Deans of 
Veterinary Faculties on the 
veterinary curriculum To discuss: 
- how to continue to adapt the teaching to reflect 
changes in the veterinary profession;  
- to create a formal framework for consultation 
between the heads of African veterinary schools 
and faculties and define the objectives of such a collaboration;  
- new topics to include in the training of 
veterinarians. 
 9-11 mars 2004 Deans and Directors of Veterinary 
schools and Faculties of countries 
participating to the PACE Programme. 
AU-IBAR and other International and 
Regional organisations. Addis Abbeba 
(Ethiopia) 
 
AMERICAS 
10th Joint OIE/CAMEVET4 
Seminar on Harmonisation and Control of Veterinary Medicinal 
Products To continue harmonisation of registration and 
control of veterinary medicinal products through technical guidelines. 
It was agreed to hold the XIth Seminar in Uruguay 
in 2005 and the XIIth in Central America.  
 9-12 August 2004 161 participants from the official and 
private veterinary sectors and representatives from the Chambers of 
Veterinary Products, from 19 countries 
of the region. Brasilia (Brazil) 
FDA/OIE workshop on  FDA 
Approach to the Human Food 
Safety Evaluation of Veterinary 
Drugs To review the FDA approach to the regulation of 
veterinary drugs residues present in human food.  
To familiarise participants with the interpretation 
and analysis of toxicological and residue data presented by pharmaceuti cal sponsors for human 
food safety evaluation of veterinary drugs. 
 12-14 August 2004 60 participants of the private and official 
sector, from 19 countries of the region. Brasilia (Brazil) 
Third Seminar on Avian 
Influenza and Newcastle disease 
Organisation jointly with the ALA5 To review country sanitary measures to prevent 
avian influenza and Newcastle disease. 
 24-25 August 2004 22 participants from the official and 
private veterinary sectors and 
representatives from ALA, from 10 
countries of the region. San Pedro Sula 
(Honduras)  
 G/SPS/GEN/550 
Page 4 Title Purpose Date Pa rticipants Location 
AMERICAS (cont'd) 
The First meeting of the 
OIE/FAO Regional Steering 
Committee Meeting of the Global 
Framework on Progressive Control of Transboundary 
Animal Diseases (GF-TADs) in 
the Americas 
 To ensure coherence of and provide guidelines for 
animal health policies, global activities and 
programs in the region in terms of transboundary 
animal diseases. 14-15 April 2005 Members of the Steering Committee, 
composed of CVOs of the region, FAO, 
OIE, potential donors and stakeholders; 
international organisations. Buenos Aires 
(Argentina) 
 
EUROPE 
OIE Seminar on Food Safety, 
Health and Consumer Protection 
in Europe To discuss various control and traceability aspects 
in food safety, health and consumer protection in 
Europe, involving the CIS, Balkan and Baltic countries. 
 19-23 June 2004 42 participants from 17 countries of 
Europe (Five countries were represented 
by the OIE Delegate). Belgrade (Serbia 
and Montenegro) 
OIE Seminar on Environmental 
Protection in relation to Veterinary Service Activities 
 To discuss veterinary Services and environmental 
protection in the CIS, Balkan and Baltic countries. 1-5 September 2004 72 from 28 countries (CVOs and 
scientists).  Warsaw (Poland) 
International Conference "Rabies 
in Europe" To discuss the problem with eradication and 
prophylaxis in Europe.    15-20 June 2005 All European Countries. Kiev (Ukraine) 
The First meeting of the 
OIE/FAO Regional Steering 
Committee Meeting of the Global Framework on Progressive 
Control of Transboundary 
Animal Diseases (GF-TADs) in 
Europe To ensure coherence of and provide guidelines for 
animal health policies, global activities and 
programs in the region in terms of transboundary animal diseases. 27-28 June 2005 
 Members of the Steering Committee, 
composed of CVOs of the region, FAO 
(Headquarters and Regional Office), OIE (Central Bureau and Regional 
Representative), together with potential 
donors and stakeholders; international 
organisations. 
 Paris (France) 
OIE Seminar on aquatic animal 
health 
 To discuss aquatic animal health in Europe.  
 14-18 August 2005 All European Countries. Oslo (Norway)  
  G/SPS/GEN/550
 Page 5Title Purpose Date Pa rticipants Location 
EUROPE (cont'd) 
1st European East-West 
Veterinary products and feeding stuffs Congress "Bridge over 
Europe" To discuss collaboration between countries in the 
field of  veterinary products and feeding stuffs. 8-10 September 2005 All European Countries. Riga (Latvia) 
12-14 September 2005 All European Countries. Suzdal (Russia) 
2-5 October 2005  Sofia (Bulgaria) OIE Seminar for the CVOs 
"Structure of the National Veterinary Services (NVS) in 
Europe" To discuss the structure of the NVS in the OIE 
Member-Countries in compliance with the requirements of the 4th OIE Strategic Plan and 
Terrestrial Animal Health Code (TAHC). 
6-10 October 2005  Bucharest 
(Romania) 
OIE/EC Seminars on 
collaboration between OIE 
Member-Countries (EC and non 
EC Member states) To discuss collaboration between OIE Member-
Countries. 1-10 October 2005 All European Countries. EC and non EC 
Member States, 
Bulgaria, 
Romania and Turkey 
Seminar on the New OIE 
Notification System 
  23-26 October 2005  Tbilisi (Georgia) 
 
MIDDLE EAST 
OIE/RSLTC6 Seminar on 
epidemiology of RVF in the Arabic 
Peninsula and implications on animal health, public health and 
world trade 
 To discuss: 
-  with regard to the RVF, countries' compliance 
with the sanitary requirements for safe trade in animals and animal products; 
-  definition of  the geographical areas at risk in 
the region and the rules to implement risk 
assessments and risk management; 
-  definition and assessment of  the impact of 
RVF on public and animal health and upon livestock trade in the region; 
-  enhancement of communication between 
countries to allow them to implement measures for prophylaxis  and control in the 
pre-epizootic situations. 21-22 November 2004 17 participants from 5 Member 
Countries, OIE and RSLTC. Sharja (United 
Arab Emirates)  
 G/SPS/GEN/550 
Page 6 Title Purpose Date Pa rticipants Location 
MIDDLE EAST (cont'd) 
OIE/AU-IBAR Seminar on the 
Implementation of animal health 
standards: the quest for solutions 
in the Africa and Middle East Regions  see under Africa. 11-13 October 2004  Cairo (Egypt) 
Workshop on Food Safety 
Management Systems (HACCP and other tools) 
This workshop was organised by OIE 
Regional Repres entation for the 
Middle East and WHO/MZCP  To discuss Strategy for Food Safety. October 2004 Mediterranean and Middle East 
countries. 
 UAE 
Training on RVF  
Joint organization with AOAD To control the disease in the region. February 200 5 All the countries of the region. Mascate (Oman) 
Training on Brucellosis 
Joint organization with AOAD  To control the disease in the region. March 2005  All the countries of the region. Damas (Syria) 
First workshop on HACCP system  
Joint organization with MZCP To analyse risks linked to critical points control 
– food industries. March 2005  Abu Dhabi 
(United Arab 
Emirates) 
Training on Foot and Mouth Disease 
Joint organization with AOAD  To control the disease in the region. June 2005 All the countries of the region. Casablanca 
(Maroc) 
Workshop on the Global Rinderpest Eradication 
Programme To support countries to enter into and follow 
the OIE Parthway to achieve accreditation of 
rinderpest freedom. November 2005 All the countries of the region and 
relevant international and regional 
organisations, FAO, GREP. Beyrouth 
(Lebanon) 
The First meeting of the OIE/FAO Regional Steering Committee 
Meeting of the Global Framework 
on Progressive Control of 
Transboundary Animal Diseases 
(GF-TADs) in Middle East To ensure coherence of and provide guidelines 
for animal health policies, global activities and programs in the region in terms of transboundary 
animal diseases. 7-8 November 2005 Members of the Steering Committee, 
composed of CVOs of the region, FAO (Headquarters and Regional Office), 
OIE (Central Bureau and Regional 
Representative), together with potential 
donors and stakeholders; International 
Organisations. Beirut (Lebanon)  
  G/SPS/GEN/550
 Page 7Title Purpose Date Pa rticipants Location 
ASIA 
OIE/FAO Emergency Regional 
Meeting on Avian Influenza 
Control in Animals in Asia  in 
collaboration with the WHO, the 
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand and the 
JLTA
7  
 To follow up the Ministerial Meeting on the 
Current Poultry Disease Situation held in Bangkok on 28 January 2004 and also the FAO/OIE/WHO 
Technical Consultation held in Rome on 3-4 
February 2004, and to discuss recommendations 
for all the countries infected with Avian Influenza 
as well as neighbouring countries for their 
protection. 
 26-28 February 2004 130 participants including 21 Asian 
countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, 
Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, 
Japan, Korea DPR, Korea R, Laos, 
Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, 
Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, 
Timor-Leste Thailand and Vietnam), 6 
other countries (Australia, Canada, 
France, Italy, New Z ealand, USA) and 8 
international organisations (ASEAN, 
EU, JICA, FAO, OIE, WHO, World 
Bank, Asian Development Bank, 
SAARC).  
 Bangkok 
(Thailand) 
10th Meeting of the OIE Sub-
Commission for FMD in South-
East Asia 
 To discuss the outcomes of the OIE/ASEAN Mid-
Term evaluation of th e SEAFMD Campaign.  29 February – 5 March 
2004 70 participants including the President of 
the Sub-Commission, a  representative 
of the OIE Director General of OIE, the Regional Representative Tokyo, other 
OIE staff, official OIE Delegates from 
Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, 
Thailand and Vietnam. Mr Singkham 
Phonvisay and delegates and observers from Department of Livestock and 
Fisheries. There were also observers 
from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Japan and Timor Leste. 
International organizations  represented 
included the World Reference Laboratory, Pirbright, FAO, JICA and 
CIRAD France.  There were 10 
representatives of the private sector 
present. 
 Luang Prabang 
(Laos)  
 G/SPS/GEN/550 
Page 8 Title Purpose Date Pa rticipants Location 
ASIA (cont'd) 
FRA8/SEAFDEC/OIE/MAFF 
9International Symposium on Koi 
Herpesvirus Disease  (KHVD) To exchange the latest information on KHVD and 
discussion on the control of KHVD aiming for appropriate preventive measures against its spread. 13 March 2004 
 About 280 people participated in the 
Symposium from 15 countries including Cambodia, China (People's Republic of), 
Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Korea 
(Republic of), Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Netherlands, Philippines, 
Singapore, Thailand, USA and Vietnam.  Yokohama 
(Japan) 
GF-TADs: Consultation on 
establishing a regional Support 
Unit and developing regional 
activities for South Asia To consult on the future GF-TADs programme  
and discuss establishment of a Regional Support 
Unit in South Asia. 27-30 April 2004 25 people participated in the 
Consultation   from 6 countries including 
Bangladesh, 
Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan,  Sri-
Lanka, and  from SAARC
10; FAO and OIE 
Regional Representation as organizers. 
 Kathmandu 
(Nepal) 
Educational Seminar for new 
CVOs in Asia 
This seminar was organised by  OIE 
Regional Representation for Asia 
and the Pacific. 
 To communicate information on OIE missions and 
activities to new CVOs of Asia, the Far East and 
Oceania with a view to strengthening their 
knowledge for the OIE. 20-21 May 2004 Delegates of Brunei, Japan, Philippines, 
Sri Lanka and Taipei China. Paris (France) 
OIE Workshop on Vaccines for 
FMD Control in Southeast Asia 
This workshop was organized 
jointly by the OIE Regional Representation for Asia and the 
Pacific in Tokyo and the OIE 
SEAFMD Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) in Bangkok. 
 To review the important areas of FMD control 
including the current situation of the use of FMD 
vaccines in Southeast Asia, strains of FMD active 
in the region and matching with vaccine strains, and also to discuss standards of vaccines, new 
strains and adequacy of coverage regarding FMD.  9 July 2004 45 participants from Philippines, Laos, 
Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, 
Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, 
Singapore (ASEAN Working Group of Livestock), UK (speaker), India 
(observer),  France (observer) and OIE.  Bangkok 
(Thailand)  
  G/SPS/GEN/550
 Page 9Title Purpose Date Pa rticipants Location 
ASIA (cont'd) 
OIE/FAO-APHCA Regional 
Workshop on the WTO SPS Agreement in colla boration with 
the Department of Livestock 
Development, Thailand (DLD) and JLTA 
 To familiarise national government officials in 
Asia and the Pacific with the roles of the WTO-SPS Agreement and the OIE and Codex 
international standards; risk analysis  and food 
safety.  
 12-16 July 2004 38 participants from Bhutan, Cambodia, 
India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, 
Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, 
Vietnam, Egypt (speaker), Germany (speaker), Switzerland (speaker), France 
(speaker), FAO and OIE.  Chiang May 
(Thailand) 
OIE/FAO Regional Workshop on 
Food and Feed Safety  
This workshop was held in 
collaboration with DLD and JLTA. To review the current situation regarding food and 
feed safety in Member Countries, to set directions for food and feed safety programmes and to 
identify the necessary area s for capacity building.  19-22 July 2004 54 participants from 12 countries 
including Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New 
Guinea, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-
Leste, Vietnam, Australia, Hong Kong- China (the last two as resource persons) 
and OIE, FAO an d JICA (Japan 
International Cooperation Agency).  Bangkok 
(Thailand) 
The Third Meeting on Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Control in East Asia  
 To exchange and discuss the updated information 
of FMD prevention and control measures in the sub-region and the regional collaboration for FMD 
prevention and control.  
 30 September - 2 
October 2004  
 52 participants from 10 countries, 
Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Malaysia, Philippines, Russia, 
Taipei China, United States of America, 
Vietnam and the OIE. Taipei, (Taipei 
China) 
 
Sub-Regional Workshop on the 
WTO Agreement on Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures 
This workshop was organised by 
WTO in collaboration with OIE, 
IPPC and Codex Alimentarius.  To update the countries of Southeast Asia  sub-
region on developments in the measures of WTO-
SPS Agreement, especially risk analysis 
methodology, and about functions of the related international standard setting organizations. 
 18-21 October 2004 48 participants from 5 South-Asian 
countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, 
Pakistan and Sri Lanka) and 4 
international organizations (OIE, IPPC, Codex Alimentarius and WTO).  
 Dhaka 
(Bangladesh) 
The Third Working Group Meeting on Animal Movement 
Management and Zoning for Foot 
and Mouth Disease Control in Lower Mekong Basin  
 To clarify the boundaries of the zones and to 
recommend innovative and cost effective 
approaches to animal movement management 
and progress planning for the epidemiological studies required. 8-12 November 
2004 30 participants from Cambodia, 
Thailand and Vietnam and OIE Regional 
Coordination Unit (RCU) and OIE 
Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific.  Sihanoukville 
(Cambodia)  
 G/SPS/GEN/550 
Page 10 Title Purpose Date Pa rticipants Location 
ASIA (cont'd) 
The Fourth Working Group 
Meeting on Animal Movement Management and Zoning for Foot 
and Mouth Disease Control in 
Upper Mekong Basin  To identify animal movement patterns and to 
discuss control measures of FMD in the Upper Mekong Basin and to discuss actions to be 
undertaken in their member countries for the 
next 12 months. 25-29 January 2005 40 participants from Lao PDR, 
Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and OIE Regional Representation for Asia and 
the Pacific and OIE Regional 
Coordination Unit (RCU). Kyaingtong 
(Myanmar) 
The Second OIE/FAO Regional 
Meeting on Avian influenza 
Control in Asia  
This workshop was held in 
collaboration with WHO. To review the current situation of Avian 
Influenza and to consider the further needs to 
enhance the design and implementation of veterinary standards, diagnostic methods, control 
measures, public health protection, industry 
rehabilitation and restructuring programmes. 23-25 February 
2005 All OIE Delegates of the region and 
experts from international organizations, 
FAO, OIE, WHO. Ho-Chi-Minh 
City  
(Vietnam) 
11th Meeting of the OIE Sub-
Commission for Foot and Mouth 
Disease in South-East Asia  
 To facilitate the implementation of the 
internationally coordinated campaign against 
Foot and Mouth Disease in South-East Asia. 
 27 February -  
4 March 2005 OIE Delegates from Cambodia, 
Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, 
Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, China PR, experts from 
international and regional organizations 
(OIE, FAO) and donors representatives.  Cebu City 
(Philippines)  
The First meeting of the 
OIE/FAO Regional Steering Committee Meeting of the Global 
Framework on Progressive 
Control of Transboundary 
Animal Diseases (GF-TADs) in 
Asia and the Pacific To ensure coherence of and provide guidelines 
for animal health policies, global activities and programs in the region in terms of transboundary 
animal diseases. 7-9 March 2005 
 Members of the Steering Committee, 
composed of CVOs of the region, FAO, OIE, ASEAN and SAARC, together 
with potential donors and stakeholders 
such as ADB, World Bank, UE, 
AUSAid, USDA, USAID and relevant 
Japanese bodies (JICA and JLTA); WHO and IFAD; representatives of 
regional projects working for TADs 
control, such as SEAFMD.  Tokyo 
(Japan) 
OIE/FAO-APHCA/DLD Regional 
Workshop on Bovine Spongiform 
Encephalopathy (BSE) Diagnosis 
and Surveillance To provide hands-on training for laboratory staff 
on BSE diagnosis and surveillance. 28-31 March 2005 20 participants from Bangladesh, 
Bhutan, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan and 
Sri Lanka, Switzerland (speakers) and 
OIE and FAO. Bangkok 
(Thailand)  
  G/SPS/GEN/550
 Page 11Title Purpose Date Pa rticipants Location 
ASIA (cont'd) 
Educational Seminar for new 
CVOs in Asia and the Pacific 
This seminar is organized by OIE 
Regional Representation for Asia 
and the Pacific. To provide new CVOs of Asia and the Pacific 
with information on OIE missions and activities in order to familiarize them with OIE functions 
and their responsibility.  April 2005 Newly assigned CVOs in the region. Bangkok 
(Thailand) 
__________ 
                                                      
1 NEPAD:  The new partnership for Africa's development  
2 AOAD:  The Arab Organisation for Agricultural Development  
3 GF-TADs:  Global Framework for the progressive control of Transboundary Animal Diseases, Programme Global pour le contrôle pro gressif des maladies animales 
4 CAMVET:  Committee of the Americas for Veterinary Medicines 
5 ALA:  Latin American Association of  Aviculture 
6 RSLTC:  Red Sea Livestock Trade Commission  
7 JLTA:  Japan Livestock Technology Association 
8 FRA:  Fisheries Research Agency, Japan 
9 MAFF:   Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan 
10SAARC:  South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation