WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/943 
17 June 2009 
 (09-2960) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English/ 
 French/  Spanish 
 
  
45
TH MEETING OF THE SPS COMMITTEE 
 
Communication by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)  
   The following communication, received on 8 June 2009, is being circulated at the request of the OIE
. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
1. The World Organization for Animal Health (O IE) is pleased to provide this report for 
information of Members of the SPS Committee. 
2. On 24-29 May 2009 the OIE held its 77th General Session, celebrating the 85th anniversary of 
the organization.  More than 600 participants re presenting the 174 OIE Members, intergovernmental, 
regional and national organizations attended the meeting (see Annex 1). 
I. ANNUAL REPORT, WORKING PROGRAMME AND ADMINISTRATIVE 
MATTERS 
3. Dr Vallat, Director General of the OIE, presented the OIE Annual Report and work 
programme for 2010 and discussed the state of play with the elaboration of the 5th OIE Strategic Plan 
(2011-2015).  He emphasised the need to strengthen the effectiveness of the OIE's actions on disease 
prevention and surveillance and its support for safe in ternational trade in animals and food of animal 
origin.  The OIE will continue to support the goa l of improving governance of  Veterinary Services 
through the application of the OIE international standards.  The OIE PVS Evaluation procedure (see 
Annex 2 for the status of the global initiative) is  a key capacity building activity of the OIE to this 
end, with strong support of international donors.  Dr Vallat stressed the need to undertake follow-up 
to the initial PVS Evaluation.  In support of Dr Vallat's comments, the OIE International Committee 
(now called the World Assembly) adopted Resolution No. 18 "Application of the OIE Tools for Good 
Governance (OIE PVS Tool, PVS Gap Analysis , PVS follow-up and Updating Veterinary 
Legislation)" - see Annex 3. 
4. International organizations that have a Coope ration Agreement with the OIE, including the 
World Bank, Codex, FAO, WHO and WTO, made presentations on their work programmes, with 
particular reference to their relationship with the OIE. 
5. The World Assembly elected Dr Carlos Corr ea Messuti from Uruguay as OIE President for a 
three-year term of office and several new members of the OIE Council (formerly known as the Administrative Commission), the five Regional Co mmissions and the Specialist Commissions for a 
three-year term of office. G/SPS/GEN/943 
Page 2  
 
  6. The OIE adopted Cooperation Agreements with the World Customs Organization, the World 
Intellectual Property Organization and the World Me teorological Organization, providing for closer 
collaboration on issues of mutual interest. 
II. OIE WORK ON ANIMAL PRODUCTION FOOD SAFETY 
7. The OIE continued to work in close collaboration with Codex on food safety, with the OIE 
particularly focusing on animal production food safet y (i.e. risk management at the farm level).  
Highlights in 2008-9 include: 
• Horizontal standards (animal identification and traceability, antimicrobial resistance, 
good farming practices, feed for terrestrial  and aquatic animals and biotechnology); 
• Vertical standards (brucellosis, salmonellosis in poultry and the identification of priority 
pathogens for future standard setting activities); 
• The World Assembly approved the extension of the mandate of the Aquatic Animal 
Health Standards Commission to deal with food safety issues at production level.  Initial 
priorities include identification and traceability of aquatic animals and their products and 
the use of antimicrobials;  and 
• Continued work in collaboration with the W HO and the FAO towards a legal basis for the 
elaboration of joint OIE – Codex standards. 
8. As in previous years, the OIE adopted update d texts in its normative publications.  In the 
Terrestrial Animal Health Code the OIE adopted 53 texts, including on: 
(1) Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE):  extension of the existing provisions for 
bovine meat (skeletal muscle) to be consider ed safe regardless of the age of the animal 
from which it was obtained and regardless of the country's sanitary status for BSE;  and 
making provision for the use of the vertebral column from cattle less than 30 months of 
age in the production of gelatine. 
(2) Classical swine fever:  defined as an infecti on of domestic pigs and the provisions for 
disease free status modified accordingly.  The finding of infection in wild pigs should not trigger the imposition of immediate trade bans  (similar to the OIE provisions for avian 
influenza).  Countries should apply appropriate  biosecurity measures and surveillance to 
protect domestic pigs from infection in wild pigs. 
(3) Wildlife:  The OIE is developing detailed pr ovisions on disease surveillance in wildlife, 
recognizing the relationship between domestic animals and wildlife. 
(4) Salmonellosis in poultry:  A new chapter on the control of salmonellosis in poultry 
(focusing on Salmonella  Enteriditis and Salmonella  typhimurium) was adopted.  The 
OIE's goal is to establish standards for effec tive surveillance and management at the farm 
level, to support the management of producti on and flock status with the objective of 
reducing the incidence of food borne diseases.  Eradication of salmonella is not a feasible 
goal for many Members in the short term.  However, all Members are keen to ensure that 
international trade does not pose risks to anim al or human health and implementation of 
the OIE standards is the best way to achieve this objective. 
(5) A text on the Rights and Obligations of OIE Members in relation to International Trade 
and Disputes will be placed on the OIE Internet site  
(http://www.oie.int/eng/normes/A_Right %20and%20obligations_March2009.pdf
)  G/SPS/GEN/943 
 Page 3 
 
 
  III. OFFICIAL OIE RECOGNITION OF THE SANITARY STATUS OF MEMBERS 
9. The OIE is the unique intergovernmental agency  granting an official status for specified 
animal diseases i.e.:  BSE, foot and mouth disease, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and 
rinderpest.  The World Assembly approved the list of countries and zones that had achieved official 
OIE recognition: 
• Two Members (Colombia, Moldavia) were re cognized as having new zones free of FMD 
with or without vaccination (see Annex 4). 
• Three Members (Chile, Colombia, Japan) we re recognized as having a "controlled risk" 
or a "negligible risk" status for BSE (see Annex 5). 
• The OIE granted 17 Members and 12 non OIE Members the official status of rinderpest 
freedom (see Annex 6).  In the near future the OIE and the FAO aim to declare the global 
eradication of rinderpest.  The OIE also adopted a resolution on the storage and containment of virulent rinderp est virus isolates and live vaccine stocks in view of the 
goal of global eradication (see Annex 7). 
IV. OTHER DISCUSSIONS 
Climate change, emerging and re-emerging diseases 
 
10. The technical theme for the 77
th General Assembly was the impact of climate change on the 
emergence and re-emergence of animal diseases.  Delegates agreed with the conclusions of a study 
that showed the need for a global approach to a ddress new threats linked to climate change and trade 
globalization and mandated the OIE to use its scien tific capabilities and networks to address relevant 
concerns, including questions li nked to livestock production and the environment (see Annex 8). 
Implication of private standards in international trade of animals and animal products 
 11. The OIE continues to study th e issues associated with priv ate commercial standards for 
sanitary safety and animal welfare that affect in ternational trade in animals and animal products. 
Delegates noted that an ad hoc  expert Group on this topic would hol d its first meeting in June 2009 
and would provide a report to the OIE Terrest rial Animal Health Standards Commission. 
 
_______________ 
 G/SPS/GEN/943 
Page 4  
 
  Annex 1
 
 
77th Annual General Assembly of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) 
24 – 29 May 2009 
  
The Assembly strengthens Members' obligatio ns regarding animal health information 
to be submitted to the OIE 
 
The Delegates of OIE Members marked the 85
th anniversary of the creation of the OIE by renewing 
and strengthening their commitments, es pecially as regards transparency.  
 
1. Paris, 29 May 2009 – The Delegates of the 174 OIE Member Countries and Territories 
celebrated the 85th anniversary of the creation of the OIE by reaffirming their confidence in the 
Organization, and they unanimously adopted a Reso lution confirming their legal obligations regarding 
transparency in their notifications of anim al diseases, including zoonoses, to the OIE. 
2. "This unanimous confirmation by the Delegate s of the OIE's 174 Members strengthens the 
effectiveness of our Organization' s actions on behalf of animal disease prevention and surveillance 
and its support for the sanitary safety of internati onal trade in animals and food of animal origin", 
emphasised the Director General of the OIE, Dr Bernard Vallat. 
3. Discussions also dealt with the growing problem of standards relating to risk analysis in 
animals and animal products used unilaterally by private firms without the direct involvement of governments, which can lead to new obligations that  can be not science based and contradictory to 
existing OIE standards and that developing countries have difficulty in adapting to. 
Novel influenza A/H1N1 virus 
 
4. Members endorsed actions of the OIE on novel influenza H1N1, notably the organization's 
stance on the correct denomination of the new virus,  on the decision of unjustified import restrictions 
decided by different countries and the call for respec t of OIE international animal welfare standards 
when proceeding to the culling of animals. 
5. The Assembly of 174 Member Countries and Territories also supported the organization's 
current work with its partner organizations on more scientific research on the virus currently 
circulating worldwide. 
Climate change, emerging and re-emerging diseases 
 
6. The impact of climate change on the emergence and re-emergence of animal diseases has 
been confirmed by a majority of OIE Member Countries and Territories in a worldwide study conducted by the OIE among all its national Dele gates.  The study presented during the session 
dedicated to the Technical Item showed the need fo r a new approach to prevent new threats linked to 
climate change and the globalisation of trade. 
7. OIE Members have consequently given the Orga nization a mandate to address this issue by 
using its scientific capabilities and networks, and to create specific groups of scientists in order to 
address these concerns as well as any question linked with livestock and environment.  G/SPS/GEN/943 
 Page 5 
 
 
  Animal welfare 
 
8. The OIE pursued its universal actions on anim al welfare by supporting the recommendations 
issued by the World Conference held in Cairo,  Egypt, in October 2008, especially as regards the 
implementation of OIE standards by developing count ries, and by voting to adopt new international 
standards to improve rabies control through better management of stray dog populations. 
Official recognition of OIE Members' animal disease status 
 
9. The Delegates of Member Countries and Territo ries approved the new list of countries zones 
that had applied for official OIE recognition of their st atus with respect to one or more of four priority 
diseases: bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), foot and mouth disease, contagious bovine 
pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and rinderpest. 
10. With regard to BSE, the OIE recognized Jap an, Colombia and Chile as having a "controlled 
BSE risk" status or "negligible risk" status. 
11. Moldavia and Colombia were newly recognized as being foot and mouth disease free, with or 
without vaccination, for all or a part of their territory. 
12. The Organization reiterated the aim that it shares w ith FAO, namely to be able to declare in 
the near future that rinderpest has been eradicated worldwide. 
Transparency, scientific expertise and solidarity 
 
13. The animal health situation worldwide with respect to 100 diseases of terrestrial or aquatic 
animals was examined in detail during the Assembly.  
14. The Delegates approved the North-South twinning  of 13 laboratories with the framework of 
the OIE's Twinning Programme, underlining the reso unding success of this initiative to encourage the 
exchange of competencies and experience betwee n countries hosting OIE Reference Laboratories and 
Collaborating Centres and in-transiti on or developing countries, to enable the latter to develop their 
laboratories and centres of excellence, thereby st rengthening their national veterinary scientific 
community.  
15. In this respect, the Delegates accredited 7 new Collaborating Centr es and 12 new Reference 
Centres Laboratories, bringing the number of offi cial centres of scientific excellence within the OIE 
worldwide network to 225. 
16. In line with OIE's continuous engagement in supporting Veterinary Services to comply with 
OIE standards on quality, thirty-one new PVS (Perform ance of Veterinary Services) missions carried 
out since May 2008 using the OIE PVS Tool were presented to the Assembly.  To date, 85 national 
PVS missions have been carried out worldwide, out of a planned total of 120 countries. 
Administrative matters 
 
17. The Assembly proceeded to elect a new Presi dent of the Assembly of OIE Delegates. 
Dr Correa Messuti from Uruguay was elected President for a three-year term of office.  He succeeds 
Dr Barry O'Neil from New Zealand, who was warmly  applauded for his highly positive contribution.  
The new members of the Council, the Regional Co mmissions and the Specialist Commissions were 
likewise elected by the World Assembly of Delegates for a three-year term of office. G/SPS/GEN/943 
Page 6  
 
  18. A cooperation agreement was signed during th e meeting between the OIE and the West 
African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) ai med at strengthening collaboration on topics of 
mutual interest. 
19. Other notable events marked the proceedings of the Assembly, including the presentation of 
the World Veterinary Day Award 2009 to the Nepal Veterinary Association. 
20. Around 600 participants, representing OIE Memb ers and intergovernmental (FAO, WHO, 
World Bank, WTO, etc.), regional and national orga nizations, took part in the event. High-ranking 
authorities, including a numerous Ministers of OIE Members, honoured the Assembly with their presence.  G/SPS/GEN/943 
 Page 7 
 
 
  Annex 2  
 
OIE PVS evaluation missions 
(as at 18 May 2009 ) 
 
Region Official requests* Missions completedReports sent to 
countries 
Africa 40 36 34 
Americas 17 16 10 
Asia/Pacific 13 12 12 
Europe 12 12 9 
Middle East 12 9 7 
Total 94 85 72 
 * Official requests:  
Africa (40): Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burund i, Cameroon, Chad, Côte D'Ivoire, 
Congo (DR), Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, 
Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia (non OIE member),  Libya , Madagascar, Malawi, 
Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mo zambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, 
Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia , Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, 
Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.  
Americas (17): Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colo mbia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, 
El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua , Panama,  
Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. 
Asia/Pacific (13): Bangladesh , Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Fiji,  Indonesia, Korea (DPR), Laos, 
Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. 
Europe (12): Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgar ia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, 
Romania, Turkey, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan 
Middle-East (12): Afghanistan , Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia , National 
Palestinian Authority (non OIE member) , Oman, Syria, United Arab Emirates 
and Yemen. 
 
In italics:  Completed missions  G/SPS/GEN/943 
Page 8  
 
  Annex 3
 
 
RESOLUTION No. 18 
 
Application of the OIE Tools for Good Governance 
(OIE PVS Tool, PVS Gap Analysis, PVS follow up and Updating Veterinary Legislation) 
 
 CONSIDERING 
 
1. The current impact of animal diseases on animal production in the world and the negative 
effects these have on the supply of high quality protein to human populations particularly in 
developing and in transition countries;  
2. The Global Programme of the OIE for the G ood Governance of Veterinary Services within 
the framework of its mandate to reinforce the capacities of Veterinary Services of Members, 
so that they are better placed to meet societ al expectations for an adequate supply of safe 
food, reduction of poverty and market access; 
3. The importance of the prevention and control of risks arising from zoonotic and non-zoonotic 
emerging and re-emerging diseases, which are often linked with globalisation and climate change; 
4. The strong link that exists between the qua ntitative and qualitative secur ity of food production 
and the control of animal diseases and pathogens; 
5. The achievements of the OIE to date in the conduct of PVS Evaluations of Veterinary 
Services of Members and the good start made in the establishment of procedures for following up the initial PVS Evaluations, i.e.  the PVS Gap Analysis, PVS follow-up and 
Updating Veterinary Legislation; 
6. That some Members have not yet requested PV S Evaluations, although there is evidence that 
this would be beneficial to st rengthening Veterinary Services. 
 THE COMMITTEE  
RECOMMENDS THAT OIE MEMBERS 
 1. Reinforce their investment in Veterinary Se rvices with a view to achieve compliance with 
OIE quality standards when possible; 
2. Request the conduct of an independent OIE PVS Evaluation as appropriate to their 
circumstances, including when appropriate the aquatic animal health system, on a strictly 
voluntary basis and with the right to keep confidential any outcomes if so desired; 
3. For those Members that have had a PVS Evaluation, request the conduct of a PVS Gap 
Analysis (under the same conditions as stated in Article (2), the outcome of which can be 
used to facilitate national budgetary discussi ons for Veterinary Services and possible 
international negotiations w ith Donors and International organizations if needed; 
4. For those Members that have had a PVS Evaluation and PVS Gap Analysis, consider 
requesting the OIE to undertake follow up activ ities as appropriate to the results of the 
relevant reports. 
  G/SPS/GEN/943 
 Page 9 
 
 
  RECOMMENDS THAT THE OIE 
 1. Continue to support its Members in the fight against terrestrial and aquatic animal diseases by 
making available relevant tools, in particular  the OIE PVS Tool, the PVS Gap Analysis and 
follow up missions, and the OIE initiative on Updating Veterinary Legislation, for the 
improvement of sanitary governance and strengt hening the capacities of national Veterinary 
Services to meet the quality standards contained in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code . 
2. Continue to work closely with Governments and all relevant nationa l authorities, partners 
and, when needed, with Donors, including through the use of the PVS Gap Analysis Tool, with the aim of securing the appropriate nationa l and international resources for veterinary 
services' compliance with the OIE quality standa rds, using both public and private financial 
sources. 
3. Based on the results of the PVS Evaluations  officially accepted by Members, encourage 
countries and/or Donors to increase their investment in animal hea lth to help to contribute to 
food security globally by improving the health status of food-producing animals and prevent 
global threats arising in connection with emerging and re-emerging diseases. 
4. Develop basic guidelines in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code  on veterinary legislation as 
part of the essential infrastructure of the veterinary services and promote the established OIE procedures for the conduct of missions to help  relevant countries update their legislation, 
where gaps are identified in the course of an OIE PVS Evaluation.  
5. Encourage donors to continue or to increase contributions to the OIE World Fund in order to 
allow the OIE to support Members in all fiel ds described above, as well as vaccine banks.  
 
 
(Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 28 May 2009) G/SPS/GEN/943 
Page 10  
 
  Annex 4
 
 
RESOLUTION No. 19 
 
Recognition of the Foot and mouth disease Status of Members 
 
 CONSIDERING THAT 
 
1. During the 62
nd General Session, the OIE Internationa l Committee established a procedure for 
annually updating a list of Member countries and zones recognized as free from foot and 
mouth disease (FMD) according to the provisions of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code  
(Terrestrial Code ); 
2. The Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases (the Scientific Commission) has continued to 
apply the procedure approved by the Inte rnational Committee, and has supported the 
recognition of the FMD free status of additiona l countries and zones for annual adoption of 
the list by the International Committee; 
3. During the 76th General Session, the International Committee adopted Resolution No. XXII, 
which specified and updated the procedure fo r Members to follow to achieve official 
recognition and maintenance of status for certain animal diseases; 
4. During the 76th General Session, the International Committee adopted Resolution No. XXIII, 
which specified the financial implications for Members applying for evaluation of official recognition or re-instatement of disease status to meet part of the costs sustained by the OIE in the evaluation process; 
5. Information published by the OIE is deri ved from declarations made by the official 
Veterinary Services of Members.  The OIE is  not responsible for inaccurate publication of 
country or zonal disease free status based on inaccurate information, changes in 
epidemiological status or other significant even ts that were not promptly reported to the 
Central Bureau subsequent to the time of declaration of freedom from FMD. 
THE COMMITTEE 
 
RESOLVES THAT  1. The Director General publish the following list of Members recognized as FMD free where 
vaccination is not practised, according to the provisions of Chapter 8.5. of the Terrestrial 
Code :  G/SPS/GEN/943 
 Page 11 
 
 
  Albania 
Australia 
Austria 
Belarus 
Belgium 
Belize 
Bosnia and Herzegovina 
Brunei 
Bulgaria 
Canada 
Chile 
Costa Rica 
Croatia 
Cuba 
Cyprus 
Czech Rep. 
Denmark 
Dominican Republic 
El Salvador 
Estonia 
Finland 
Former Yug. Rep. of Macedonia France 
Germany 
Greece 
Guatemala 
Guyana 
Haiti 
Honduras 
Hungary 
Iceland 
Indonesia 
Ireland 
Italy 
Japan 
Korea (Rep. of) 
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Madagascar 
Malta 
Mauritius 
Mexico 
 Montenegro 
Netherlands 
New Caledonia  
New Zealand 
Nicaragua 
Norway 
Panama 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Serbia1 
Singapore 
Slovakia 
Slovenia 
Spain 
Sweden 
Switzerland 
Ukraine 
United Kingdom 
United States of America 
Vanuatu 
 
2. The Director General publish the foll owing Members recognized as FMD free where 
vaccination is practised, according to th e provisions of Chapter 8.5. of the Terrestrial Code : 
Uruguay.  
3. The Director General publish the following list of Members having FMD free zones where 
vaccination is not practised, according to the provisions of Chapter 8.5. of the Terrestrial 
Code2: 
Argentina : the zone designated by the Delegate of Argentina in a document addressed to 
the Director General in January 2007; 
Botswana : the zones as designated by the Dele gate of Botswana in a document 
addressed to the Director General in January 2009; 
Brazil : State of Santa Catarina; 
Colombia : zones designated by the Delegate of Colombia in documents addressed to the 
Director General in November 1995 and in April 1996 (Area I - Northwest 
region of Choco Department) and in January 2008 (Archipelago de San 
Andres and Providencia); 
Malaysia : zones of Sabah and Sarawak designated by the Delegate of Malaysia in a 
document addressed to the Director General in December 2003; 
Moldova : zone designated by the Delegate of Moldova in a document addressed to the 
Director General in July 2008; 
Namibia : zone designated by the Delegate of Namibia in a document addressed to the 
Director General in February 1997; 
Peru: zones as designated by the Delegate of Peru in two documents addressed to 
the Director General in December 2004 and in January 2007; 
                                                      
1 Including Kosovo administer ed by the United Nations. 
2 For detailed information on the delimitation of zones of Members recognized as FMD free, enquiries 
should be addressed to the Director General of the OIE. G/SPS/GEN/943 
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  Philippines
: Islands of Mindanao, Visayas, Palawan and Masbate; 
South Africa : zone designated by the Delegate of South Africa in a document addressed to 
the Director General in May 2005. 
4. The Director General publish the following list of Members having FMD free zones where 
vaccination is practised, according to th e provisions of Chapter 8.5. of the Terrestrial Code : 
Argentina:  zone of Argentina designated by the Delegate of Argentina in documents 
addressed to the Director General in March 2007. 
Bolivia:  zone of Chiquitania designated by th e Delegate of Bolivia in documents 
addressed to the Director General in Ja nuary 2003 and a zone situated in the 
western part of the Department of Oruro in documents addressed to the 
Director General in September 2005; 
Brazil:  States of Acre along with two adjacent municipalities of Amazon state, Rio 
Grande do Sul, Rondonia and the middle southern part of the State Parà, as designated by the Delegate of Brazil in a document addressed to the Director General in March 2004 and February 2007. The States of Bahia, Espírito 
Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Se rgipe, Tocantins, Distrito Federal, 
Goiás, Mato Grosso, Paraná, São Pa ulo of Brazil as designated by the 
Delegate of Brazil in a document addressed to the Director General in May 2008; and the zone in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul as designated by the Delegate of Brazil in a document addressed to the Director General in July 2008; 
Colombia:
 zone designated by the Delegate of Co lombia in documents addressed to the 
Director General in January 2003, two zones designated by the Delegate in 
documents addressed to the Director General in December 2004, a south western zone designated by the Dele gate of Colombia in documents 
addressed to the Director General in January 2007 and an eastern zone 
designated by the Delegate of Colomb ia in documents addressed to the 
Director General in January 2009; 
Paraguay:
 zone designated by the Delegate of Paraguay in documents addressed to the 
Director General in March 2007. 
AND 
 
5. The Delegates of these Members will immediat ely notify the Central Bureau if FMD occurs 
in their countries or zones within their territories. 
 
 
(Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 26 May 2009)  G/SPS/GEN/943 
 Page 13 
 
 
  Annex 5  
 
RESOLUTION No. 20 
 
Recognition of the Rinderpest Disease Status of Members 
 
 CONSIDERING THAT 
 
1. During the 63
rd General Session, the OIE International Committee established a procedure for 
annually updating a list of Member countries and zones, recognized as free from rinderpest according to the provisions of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code  (Terrestrial Code ), 
2. During the 76
th General Session, the International Committee adopted Resolution No. XXII, 
which specified and updated the procedure fo r Members to follow to achieve official 
recognition and maintenance of status for certain animal diseases, 
3. During the 76th General Session, the International Committee adopted Resolution No. XXIII, 
which specified the financial implications for Members applying for evaluation of official recognition or re-instatement of disease status, but which excluded rinderpest because participation in the cost of rinderpest disease status evaluation will be obtained, whenever 
possible, from sources other than direct payment by Members, 
4. Information published by the OIE is deri ved from declarations made by the official 
Veterinary Services of Members.  The OIE is  not responsible for inaccurate publication of 
country disease free status based on inaccurate info rmation, changes in epidemiological status 
or other significant events that were not promp tly reported to the Central Bureau subsequent 
to the time of declaration of freedom from rinderpest infection, 
5. During the 75
th General Session the International Comm ittee adopted the proposed update in 
the "OIE rinderpest pathway" of the Terrestrial Code .  In view of the progress in global 
rinderpest eradication, the provisions of Chapter 2.2.12. of the Terrestrial Code  2007 were 
restricted to the sole recognition of rinderpest free status representing a country-wide infection free status.  Therefore new applications from Members for zones free from 
rinderpest or "rinderpest disease free" status are no longer applicable or listed, 
6. The International Committee and relevant organi zations having an official agreement with the 
OIE accepted that the OIE assess and publish in a separate list the rinderpest status of non-
OIE Members in accordance with the provisions of the OIE Terrestrial Code .  However, to be 
recognized as free from rinderpest, specific conditions apply to the obligations of the 
Veterinary Services of countries or territories not yet Members of the OIE, 
THE COMMITTEE 
 RESOLVES THAT  1. The Director General publish the follo wing list of Members recognized as free from 
rinderpest, according to the provisions of Chapter 8.13. of the Terrestrial Code : 
 G/SPS/GEN/943 
Page 14  
 
  Afghanistan 
Albania 
Algeria 
Andorra 
Angola 
Argentina 
Armenia 
Australia 
Austria 
Barbados 
Bahrain 
Belarus 
Belgium 
Belize 
Benin 
Bhutan 
Bolivia 
Bosnia and Herzegovina 
Botswana 
Brazil 
Brunei 
Bulgaria 
Burkina Faso 
Burundi 
Canada 
Cape Verde 
Chile 
China  
Chinese Taipei 
Colombia 
Congo 
Congo (Dem. Rep. of the)  
Côte d'Ivoire 
Costa Rica 
Croatia 
Cuba Cyprus 
Czech Rep. 
Denmark3 
Dominican Rep. 
Ecuador  
Egypt 
El Salvador 
Equatorial Guinea 
Eritrea 
Estonia 
Ethiopia 
Fiji  
Finland 
Former Yug. Rep. of 
Macedonia 
France4 
Gabon 
Germany  
Ghana 
Greece 
Guatemala 
Guinea 
Guinea Bissau 
Guyana 
Haiti 
Honduras 
Hungary 
Iceland 
India 
Indonesia 
Iran 
Iraq 
Ireland 
Italy 
Jamaica 
Japan 
Jordan Kenya 
Korea (Dem. People's Rep.) 
Korea (Rep. of) 
Latvia 
Lebanon 
Lesotho 
Libya 
Liechtenstein 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Madagascar 
Malawi 
Malaysia 
Mali 
Malta 
Mauritania 
Mauritius 
Mexico 
Moldavia 
Mongolia 
Montenegro 
Morocco 
Mozambique 
Myanmar 
Namibia 
Nepal  
Netherlands 
New Caledonia 
New Zealand 
Nicaragua 
Norway  
Oman 
Pakistan 
Panama 
Paraguay 
Peru Philippines 
Poland 
Portugal  
Romania 
Rwanda 
San Marino 
Senegal 
Serbia5 
Singapore 
Slovakia 
Slovenia 
South Africa 
Spain 
Sudan 
Suriname 
Swaziland 
Sweden 
Switzerland 
Tajikistan 
Tanzania 
Thailand 
Togo 
Trinidad and Tobago 
Tunisia 
Turkey 
Uganda 
Ukraine 
United Kingdom6 
United States of America 
Uruguay 
Uzbekistan 
Vanuatu 
Venezuela 
Vietnam 
Zambia 
Zimbabwe 
 
2. The Director General publish the following lis t of non-OIE Members recognized as free from 
rinderpest according to the provisions of Chapter 8.13. of the Terrestrial Code : 
Cook Islands 
Marshall Islands 
Nauru Niue  
Palau  
Papua New Guinea Samoa  
Seychelles  
Solomon Islands St Vincent and the Grenadines 
Timor Leste 
Vatican 
 
AND 
 
3. The Delegates of Members and competent authorities of non-OIE Members will immediately 
notify the Central Bureau if rinderpest occurs in their countries. 
 
(Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 26 May 2009) 
                                                      
3  Excluding Faroe Islands. 
4  Excluding Wallis-and-Futuna. 
5  Excluding Kosovo administer ed by the United Nations. 
6  Excluding Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, and Turks and Caicos.  G/SPS/GEN/943 
 Page 15 
 
 
  Annex 6  
 
RESOLUTION No. 22 
 
Recognition of the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Risk Status of Members 
 
 CONSIDERING THAT 
 
1. During the 67
th General Session the OIE Internationa l Committee established a procedure for 
annually updating a list of Members, categorised  by their Bovine spongiform encephalopathy 
(BSE) risk according to the provisions of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code  (Terrestrial 
Code ), 
2. During the 76th General Session, the OIE adopted Reso lution No. XXII, which specified and 
updated the procedure for Members to follow to achieve official recognition and maintenance 
of status of certain diseases, 
3. During the 76th General Session, the International Committee adopted Resolution No. XXIII, 
which specified the financial implications for Members applying for evaluation of official recognition or re-instatement of a BSE risk status  to meet part of the costs sustained by the 
OIE in the evaluation process, 
4. Information published by the OIE is deri ved from declarations made by the official 
Veterinary Services of Members.  The OIE is not responsible for inaccurate publication of a 
Member disease status based on inaccurate information, changes in epidemiological status or other significant events that were not promptly  reported to the Central Bureau, subsequent to 
the time of declaration of the BSE risk status. 
THE COMMITTEE 
 RESOLVES THAT  1. The Director General publish the following list of Members recognized as having a negligible 
BSE risk in accordance with  Chapter 11.6.. of the Terrestrial Code : 
Argentina Iceland Singapore 
Australia New Zealand Sweden Chile Norway Uruguay Finland Paraguay  
 G/SPS/GEN/943 
Page 16  
 
  2. The Director General publish the following lis t of Members recognized as having a controlled 
BSE risk in accordance with Chapter 11.6. of the Terrestrial Code : 
Austria Germany Mexico 
Belgium Greece Netherlands 
Brazil Hungary Poland 
Canada Ireland Portugal 
Chinese Taipei Italy Slovak Republic 
Colombia Japan Slovenia Cyprus Latvia Spain 
Czech Republic Lichtenstein Switzerland 
Denmark Lithuania United Kingdom Estonia Luxembourg United States of America 
France Malta  
 AND  
3. The Delegates of these Members will immediatel y notify the Central Bureau if BSE occurs in 
their countries or their territories. 
 
 
(Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 26 May 2009) 
  G/SPS/GEN/943 
 Page 17 
 
 
  Annex 7  
 
RESOLUTION No. 27 
 
Storage and confinement of virulent rinderpest virus isolates 
and live vaccine stocks in view of the goal of global eradication of rinderpest 
 
 
CONSIDERING THAT 
 1. The OIE together with FAO and relevant regi onal organizations having an agreement with the 
OIE, have progressed significantly in moving towards a declaration of global freedom from 
rinderpest within the foreseeable future, 
2. Rinderpest virus isolation from a susceptible an imal in the field was last reported to OIE in 
2001, 
3. Rinderpest virus is listed as a potential bioterrorism agent in the Biological and Toxins 
Weapon Convention of the United Nations, 
4. Following the global declaration of rinderp est freedom, an internationally agreed upon 
quantity of the viral agent and vaccine should be kept in stock in case it is needed for 
emergency vaccination, 
5. The global declaration of rinderpest freedom w ould not be possible or scientifically justifiable 
for as long as the availability and accessibility of  rinderpest virus strains and live vaccine 
stocks remains uncontrolled, 
6. The controlled storage and accessibility of rinderp est virus strains and vaccines could best fall 
under the responsibility of approved institutions  designated for that purpose following an 
agreement between the OIE, FAO, the approve d institutions and the countries concerned, 
THE COMMITTEE 
 RESOLVES THAT  
1. OIE Members and non-OIE Members consider  including by mandate in the appropriate 
national legislation, a ban on the use of rinderpest vaccine in livestock. 
2. Members and non-Members compile detailed r ecords on existing rinderpest virus isolates or 
live vaccine strains and actively collect, centra lise and destroy under official supervision any 
such remaining rinderpest virus strains and vaccine stocks within their countries and 
territories, except as specified below. 
3, The OIE Biological Standards Commissi on develops guidelines for the controlled 
safekeeping of rinderpest virus strains and vaccines at designated facilities. 
4. Members and non-Members request the OIE a nd FAO to recommend and designate storage 
facilities where a quantity of either viral stock or vaccine may be held in reserve for emergency response in accordance with identif ied need and in compliance the guidelines 
mentioned in the previous paragraph (point 3 above). 
5. The OIE, FAO and approved institutions est ablish a joint monitoring process to audit the 
destruction of rinderpest viral strains and v accines for livestock and, where applicable, the 
safekeeping of such viral strains and v accines at designated storage facilities. 
(Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 28 May 2009) G/SPS/GEN/943 
Page 18  
 
  Annex 8
 
 
RESOLUTION No. 31 
 
Impact of climate change and environmental changes on emerging 
and re-emerging animal diseases and animal production 
 
 
CONSIDERING THAT 
 1. Ecosystem change, includi ng climate and environmental changes and the associated 
interrelationships, is strongly associated w ith many emerging and re-emerging animal 
diseases, and that many of the anticipated consequences of climate and environmental changes seem to be occurring at a faster rate than expected. 
2. The scale and pace of climate and environm ental changes make it difficult to forecast 
accurately the rate, distribution and scale of the emergence and re-emergence of many animal diseases in different places and at different times across the globe, and the impact on terrestrial and aquatic animal production. 
3. The general trend towards intensification and industrialisation of animal production is 
expected to continue and will increase the oppor tunity for animal diseases to emerge and re-
emerge. 
4. There is an urgent need for more scientific information for the real impact of climatic and 
environmental changes on the occurrence of animal diseases and on animal production. 
5. A wide range of other factors such as increasing trade and tourism, changing consumer 
preference, and increasing urbanization, are interrelated and forming a complex system that 
could also affect disease emergence and re-emergence. 
6. In such a complex system environment, ther e are often no ‘right' decisions but merely ‘more 
suitable' decision pathways. 
7. OIE Members perceive the level of concer n about the likely impact on emerging and re-
emerging animal diseases as either extreme or major for both climate and environmental 
change in the context of globalisation. 
8. Improvement of food security and animal production food safety are two of the primary 
objectives of the OIE. 
THE COMMITTEE 
 
RECOMMENDS THAT 
 1. The OIE establish an ad hoc  Group to address the role of c limate and environmental changes 
on emerging and re-emerging animal diseases a nd production over the short, medium and 
long term. 
2. The OIE continue its initiativ e of evaluating Veterinary Services through the application of 
the PVS tool, the PVS gap analysis and PVS fo llow up evaluations to further strengthen the 
ability of OIE Members to practice good veterina ry governance that unde rpins the prevention, 
timely detection and rapi d response to emerging and re-emerging diseases. 
3. The OIE promote the establishment of re gional networks, within  existing coordinating 
mechanisms such as OIE Regional and Sub-Regional Representations, the Global Framework 
for the Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF- TADs), as well as the OIE/FAO Regional  G/SPS/GEN/943 
 Page 19 
 
 
  Animal Health Centres, to address matters rela ted to climate and environmental changes and 
the occurrence of emerging and re-emerging diseases. 
4. Opportunities to establish twinning projects be de veloped to identify expertise at the regional 
level focused on disease issues that are likely to  be affected by climate and environmental 
changes. 
5. The OIE continue to support activities of Members mainly through the Regional and Sub-
Regional Representations, including capacity- building and training activities.  More 
specifically, the Director General creates a fo cal point on climate and environmental change 
issues and reinforces, in liaison with Member s and their Delegates the OIE focal points for 
animal disease notification, wildlife, aquatic animals, animal welfare and food safety should 
remain sensitive on issues related to emerging and re-emerging diseases influenced by climate 
and environmental changes. 
6. The OIE, in collaboration with other interna tional organizations, assist Veterinary Authorities 
to develop foresight and other decision-making frameworks that take into account new information about the evolving relationship between the ecosystem and emerging and re-
emerging animal diseases, and that such an a pproach recognizes the need for adaptive policy 
responses. 
7. The OIE continue to promote the One World, One Health  concept, pursuing appropriate 
avenues to ensure the continued recognition of the leading role of Veterinary Services in 
preventing and mitigating emerging and re-emerging zoonoses and transboundary diseases resulting from climate and environmental cha nges and having the potential to affect 
livelihoods worldwide. 
8. OIE Reference Laboratories and Collabor ating Centres further develop studies and 
investigations into the relationship of climat e and environmental changes with the occurrence 
of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseas es and should explore building networks to 
monitor, review and analyse the effects of su ch changes on animal health and collaborate on 
responses. 
9. Veterinary Faculties worldwide be encouraged to include the issue of the impact of climate 
and environmental changes on emerging and re -emerging animal diseases and animal 
production within their undergradua te and postgraduate curricula. 
10. The OIE through its different Speci alist Commissions and Working and ad hoc  Groups, 
continue to be sensitised to review existi ng standards and devel op guidelines and publish 
scientific information on the prevention, detec tion and control of emerging and re-emerging 
diseases related to climate and environmental changes in the context of globalisation. 
11. The OIE develop activities directed to a be tter scientific understanding on the impact and 
cost/benefit of livestock on climate and environmental changes. 
12. The OIE encourage the consideration of Memb ers for the establishment of one or more OIE 
Collaborating Centres on climatic and environmenta l changes related to terrestrial and aquatic 
animal health and animal production. 
 
 
(Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 28 May 2009) 
 
__________