WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/942 
17 June 2009 
 (09-2954) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English/ 
 French/  Spanish 
 
  
SANITARY ISSUES ARISING FROM THE NOVEL A/H1N1 INFLUENZA SITUATION 
 
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. Since authorities became aware of the emerge nce of a novel influenza virus (A/H1N1) in 
April 2009 the OIE in collaboration with the WTO, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has publis hed several statements on the animal health, 
food safety and international trade implications of the evolving situation.  Copies of all OIE 
statements may be found on the OIE website:  http://www.oie.int/eng/press/en_press2009.htm?e1d3
 
(see Annexes 1-8). 
2. Some of the key messages conveyed through  these statements include the following: 
I. SAFETY OF PIG MEAT AND PIG MEAT PRODUCTS FOR HUMAN 
CONSUMPTION 
3. In statements issued jointly with WTO/FAO/ WHO, the OIE highlighted that pork and pork 
products handled in accordance with good hygienic  practices would not be a source of A/H1N1 
infection. 
II. SAFETY OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE 
4. To date, only one country has reported the pr esence of A/H1N1 virus in pigs and current 
evidence indicates that the spread  of the virus is from human to human, not from animal (pig) to 
human.  The OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code does not recommend the imposition of trade 
measures on the importation of pigs or their produc ts as a means to prevent the spread of A/H1N1 
virus and Members notifying such measures to the SPS Committee should be aware that these are not 
based on OIE standards. 
III. CULLING PIGS TO PROTECT AGAINST A/H1N1 VIRUS 
5. The OIE counsels strongly against the culling of pigs as such action would not help to guard 
against public or animal health risks.  Under an y circumstances, the culling for sanitary purposes of 
pigs and other animals should be done hu manely in accordance with OIE standards. G/SPS/GEN/942 
Page 2  
 
  6. At its 77
th General Session the OIE provided an update  on the current situation with the novel 
A/H1N1 virus.  Members endorsed the actions of the OIE, notably the OIE's stance on the correct 
denomination of the new virus, on the implemen tation by some countries of unjustified import 
restrictions and on the need to respect the OIE in ternational animal welfare standards when culling 
animals. 
7. The International Committee also supported the OIE's collaboration with partners in regard to 
global epidemio-surveillance and scientific rese arch, including through the OFFLU network. 
_______________ 
  G/SPS/GEN/942 
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  Annex 1  
 
A/H1N1 INFLUENZA LIKE HUMAN ILLNESS IN MEXICO AND THE USA: 
OIE STATEMENT 
 
 
1. Paris, 27 April 2009 - A virus circulating in Mexico and the United States and involving 
person to person transmission appears to cause in so me cases severe disease in certain people infected 
by this virus.  There is no evidence that this virus is transmitted by food. 
2. It is not a classical human influenza virus calle d seasonal influenza, which causes every year 
millions of human cases of influenza worldwide bu t a virus which includes in its characteristics 
swine, avian and human virus components. 
3. No current information in influenza like animal  disease in Mexico or the United States could 
support a link between human cases and possible an imal cases including swine.  The virus has not 
been isolated in animals to date.  Therefore, it is not  justified to name this disease swine influenza.  In 
the past, many human influenza ep idemics with animal origin have been named using geographic 
name, e.g. Spanish influenza or Asiatic influenza, thus it would be logical to call this disease "North-
American influenza". 
4. Urgent scientific research must be started in or der to know the susceptibility of animals to this 
new virus, and if relevant to implement biosecur ity measures including possible vaccination to protect 
susceptible animals.  If this virus would be shown to  cause disease in animals, virus circulation could 
worsen the regional and global situation for public health. 
5. Currently, only findings related to the circulati on of this virus in pigs in zones of countries 
having human cases would justify trade measures on the importation of pigs from these countries. The 
OIE will continue its alert function and will pub lish in relation with its  Members, Reference 
Laboratories and Collaborating Centres all appropriate information in real time. 
6. OIE and FAO underline the great value of the in fluenza veterinary laboratory network called 
OFFLU, in charge of the surveillance of the evolut ion of influenza viruses in animals.  There is a 
strong need to reinforce this network whose memb ers are urged to put immediately in the public 
domain any genetic sequence of influenza virus they obtain. 
7. This influenza event underlines in all count ries the crucial importance of maintaining 
worldwide veterinary services able to implement in  animals early detection of relevant emerging 
pathogens with a potential public health impact.  This  capacity is fully linked with veterinary services 
good governance and their compliance with OIE international standards of quality. 
April 2009  G/SPS/GEN/942 
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  Annex 2
 
 
OIE POSITION ON SAFETY OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE OF PIGS 
AND PRODUCTS OF PIG ORIGIN 
 
 
1. Paris, 28 April 2009 - Because the current A/H1 N1 related human health event has been 
described as swine influenza, the World Organiza tion for Animal Health (OIE) wishes to further 
clarify the facts from the animal health perspective, particularly in relation to international trade of 
pigs and of products of pig origin.  The OIE also points out that it will continue to respond to new, 
incoming information as the situation evolves. 
2. Information available to the OIE does not indicat e, at this time, that the influenza outbreak 
currently occurring in the United States and Mexico w as preceded by an outbre ak of swine influenza. 
3. Within a few days, scientific investigations that  are currently under way should indicate if the 
virus circulating in humans is capable of infecting animal species, such as pigs, chickens and horses. 
4. It is not correct to call the current disease "swine influenza".  The virus that is circulating 
includes genetic components of human, avian and swin e origin.  The OIE proposed to refer to this 
new virus as "North American influenza", using the same approach to nomenclature as used with the 
Asian influenza and Spanish influenza outb reaks that have occurred in the past. 
5. Given there is no case of infection in animals confirmed in the zones where cases of human 
infection have been detected, it is not necessary to  introduce specific measures for international trade 
in swine or their products nor to consider that cons umers of pork products are at risk of infection. 
6. The following update, sent to the National Dele gates of the OIE's 174 Member Countries and 
Territories, summarises the OIE position regarding the safety of international tr ade in the context of 
the current influenza situation. 
 
 
NOTE SENT TODAY TO THE OIE NATIONAL DELEGATES 
FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL 
 
 
1. I am writing to inform you about the current situation with A/H1N1 influenza-like human 
illness in Mexico and the United States.  The OIE is of the view that as this virus has not, for the 
moment, been isolated in pigs or other animals, it is not appropriate to call it "swine influenza".  The 
OIE recommends that the virus be referred to as "N orth American influenza", in keeping with the 
naming of other outbreaks of influenza in the hum an population.  Nonetheless, this emerging disease 
is genetically linked, amongst others, with H1N1 sw ine influenza and the OIE is calling for scientific 
research to be started with urgency to assist in  clarifying the sources and the risks presented by this 
virus to veterinary public health and to the diffe rent animal species (pigs, poultry and horses). 
2. Notwithstanding that this human disease is not  simply swine influenza, you would be aware 
that swine influenza is not an OIE listed disease an d there is currently no justification in the OIE 
Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Code  for the imposition of trade measures on the importation of 
pigs or their products.  To date there is no eviden ce that the virus is transmitted by food and influenza 
A viruses are generally not heat resistant. 
3. In the event that the virus associated with the current human disease is shown to be 
circulating in animals in zones of countries that ha ve reported human cases of infection, this should be  G/SPS/GEN/942 
 Page 5 
 
 
  reported to the OIE as an emerging disease.  If appropriate, the OIE will develop official 
recommendations to prevent and control any identified risks to public health and animal health from 
livestock production and trade. 
4. Please note that an importing country has the right at any time to contact an exporting country 
and to conduct an inspection or audit of the situ ation as relevant to the importation of animals or 
animal products (Section 5.  Trade measures, im port/export procedures and veterinary certification). 
5. Please see, for information, my public statem ent on this issue, which may be viewed at: 
http://www.oie.int/eng/press/en_090427.htm . 
 
Bernard Vallat  
April 2009 
 G/SPS/GEN/942 
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  Annex 3
 
 
THE OIE STRONGLY COUNSELS AGAINST THE CULLING OF PIGS 
  
1. The OIE strongly counsels against the culling of pigs in the current situation with A/H1N1 
influenza that started in North America. 
2. Scientific information currently available to the OIE and partner organizations indicates that 
this novel A/H1N1 influenza virus is being tr ansmitted amongst humans; there is no evidence of 
infection in pigs, nor of humans ac quiring infection directly from pigs. 
3. Moreover, and despite the fact that the curren tly circulating A/H1N1 influenza virus is not 
simply a swine influenza virus (it has reassortant gene tic material of human, avian and swine origin), 
it is important to note that swine influenza has not been shown to be transmissible to people through 
eating pig meat or other products derived from pigs. 
4. The OIE advises Members that the culling of pigs will not help to guard against public or 
animal health risks presented by this novel A/H1N1 influenza virus and such action is inappropriate.  
Instead, Members should focus their efforts on appr opriate disease surveillance and strengthening the 
general biosecurity measures applied at premis es where pigs are handled and slaughtered. 
5. The OIE is collaborating with its network of reference laboratories and collaborating centres, 
as well as with the World Health Organization and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in scientific investigations on the current situation and will if needed issue further advice regarding 
biosecurity and trade measures in due course.  Thanks to these current investigations, the 
pathogenicity (if any) of the circulating virus for animals should be known shortly and, once known, 
will be the subject of a further communication from the OIE. 
6. In the meantime, Veterinary Authorities should work in collaboration with human health 
counterparts to monitor pig herds for any signs of  unusual illness with suspected linkages to human 
cases of A/H1N1 influenza. 
 April 2009 
  G/SPS/GEN/942 
 Page 7 
 
 
  Annex 4  
 
JOINT WTO/OIE/WHO/FAO STATEMENT ON A/H1N1 INFLUENZA 
  
1. Four global organizations stated on 2 May 2 009 that pork products  handled in accordance 
with hygienic practices are not a source of infection. 
2. The following statement was i ssued jointly on 2 May 2009 by the Food and Agriculture 
Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization. 
3. In light of the spread of influenza A/H1N1, and the rising concerns about the possibility of 
this virus being found in pigs and the safety of pork and pork products, we  stress that pork and pork 
products, handled in accordance with good hygien ic practices recommended by the WHO, FAO, 
Codex Alimentarius Commission and the OIE,  will not be a source of infection. 
4. To date there is no evidence that the virus is tr ansmitted by food.  There is currently therefore 
no justification in the OIE Terrestrial Animal He alth Standards Code for the imposition of trade 
measures on the importation of pigs or their products. 
5. However it is important that Veterinary Aut horities should collaborate with human health 
counterparts to monitor pig herds for any signs of  unusual illness with suspected linkages to human 
cases of A/H1N1 influenza. 
 G/SPS/GEN/942 
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  Annex 5
 
 
OIE COMMENTS ON THE FINDINGS OF "A/H1N1" IN PIGS IN CANADA 
  
1. Paris, 4 May 2009 – The Veterinary Services of  Canada announced on Saturday, 2 May 2009 
that a pig farm in Alberta, Canada had been inf ected with the "A/H1N1 virus".  The infection is 
probably linked with the entry of a carpenter having worked at the farm.  The carpenter had flu symptoms after a short stay in Mexico.  He has now recovered. More investigations are still ongoing. 
2. Some pigs at the farm went off feed and showed respiratory symptoms.  The Canadian 
Veterinary Services decided immediately to put the farm under quarantine.  The sampled pigs tested 
positive to the"A/H1N1 virus".  It was a mild disease and the pigs have now recovered. 
3. According to OIE regulations this event has the status of emerging disease and Canada is 
preparing an official notification to the OIE. 
4. Because of the exceptional nature of this even t and in order to make appropriate additional 
scientific investigations, the Canadian authorities ma y decide to maintain the farm under quarantine. 
5. Furthermore, the OIE is waiting for the results of scientific experiment s aimed to determine 
the susceptibility of different animal species vs the "A/H1N1" isolated in infected humans.  This 
information is awaited within the following da ys and will be publishe d as soon as available. 
6. All previous recommendations made by the OIE befo re this event in pigs in Canada remain 
valid, including the implementation by Veterinary Se rvices of biosecurity measures to protect animals 
from human infections as well as strengthe ning relevant animal surveillance. 
  G/SPS/GEN/942 
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  Annex 6  
 
OIE REACTION TO TRADE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED FOLLOWING TRANSMISSION 
OF VIRUS "A/H1N1" FROM HUMAN TO PIGS 
 
 
1. Paris, 7 May 2009 – Several countries around the world have imposed trade restrictions on 
countries exporting animals or products of animal origin that have decl ared human cases related to the 
new influenza of the type known as "A/H1N1". 
2. The imposition of ban measures related to the im port of pigs and pig products do not comply 
with international standards published by the OIE and all other competent standard setting 
international bodies for animal health and food safety. 
3. The first transmission of "A/H1N1" virus from hu man to pigs in a single herd was officially 
notified to the OIE by Canada on the 5 May 2009 (http://www.oie.int/wahis/repor ts/en_imm_0000008065_2009 0505_191855.pdf
), based on provisions 
relating to emerging diseases contained in the OIE C ode.  The virus in question is the novel influenza 
virus "A/H1N1";  in contrast, the disease linked with the "classical" swine influenza virus is different 
and is not notifiable to the OIE since it is mild in pigs and the infection only rarely seriously affects 
humans. 
4. The OIE will develop appropriate  standards for this emerging disease.  In the meantime, and 
until new standards have been adopted by its 174 Member Countries and Territories, the OIE 
recommends that all animals from the currently inf ected Canadian farm be maintained in strict 
isolation, and that quarantine from the farm not be lifted until it has been rigorously demonstrated by the Veterinary Services of the country concerned that  there are no pigs infected with the "A/H1N1" 
virus at the farm.  This recommendation would also apply to any other country that should experience 
a similar situation. 
5. The OIE confirms and reiterates its recommenda tions already published jointly with WHO, 
FAO and the WTO on the 2 May 2009 regarding the safety of pork and pork products. 
6. The OIE also issues a reminder that in all count ries of the world the Veterinary Services are 
responsible for ensuring that no sick animal, re gardless of the disease, is slaughtered for human 
consumption. 
 G/SPS/GEN/942 
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  Annex 7
 
 
JOINT FAO/WHO/OIE STATEMENT ON INFLUENZA A/H1N1 
AND THE SAFETY OF PORK 
 
 
1. Paris, 7 May 2009 - To avoid any misunders tanding FAO, WHO and OIE would like to 
reissue their joint statement or iginally issued on 30 April. 
2. In the ongoing spread of influenza A(H1N1), c oncerns about the possibility of this virus being 
found in pigs and the safety of pork and pork products have been raised. 
3. Influenza viruses are not known to be transmissible to people through eating processed pork 
or other food products derived from pigs. 
4. Heat treatments commonl y used in cooking meat (e.g. 70°C/160°F core temperature) will 
readily inactivate any viruses potentially present in raw meat products. 
5. Pork and pork products, handled in accordan ce with good hygienic practices recommended by 
the WHO, Codex Alimentarius Commission and th e OIE, will not be a source of infection. 
6. Authorities and consumers should ensure that meat from sick pigs or pigs found dead are not 
processed or used for human consumption under any circumstances. 
  G/SPS/GEN/942 
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  Annex 8  
 
THE OIE ADVOCATES IMPLEMENTING INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR 
HUMANE KILLING OF ANIMALS FOR DISEASE PREVENTION PURPOSES 
 
 
1. Paris, 20 May 2009  - The OIE already strongly advised on the pointless culling of pigs in 
relation with the recent outbreaks of novel A/H1N1 infl uenza.  In its official statement issued on the 
30 April 2009, the OIE advised its Members that th e culling of pigs will not help to guard against 
public or animal health risks presented by this nove l A/H1N1 influenza virus and that such action is 
not recommended. 
2. However, some countries have decided to impl ement massive pig culling operations in this 
context, on the basis of the precaution principle.  The OIE recalls that culling of animals should always be carried out in accordance with OIE in ternational standards on killing methods for disease 
control purposes (Volume 1; Section 7; Chapter 7.6 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code : 
http://www.oie.int/eng/normes/mc ode/en_chapitre_1.7.6.htm
). 
3. The Second OIE Global Conference on Animal  Welfare, held in Cairo, Egypt in 
October 2008 rallied support from all OIE Members a nd partners for worldwide implementation of 
OIE animal welfare standards.  The OIE strongl y encourages the effective implementation of these 
standards by all Members and offers its assistan ce to any Member wishing to implement culling 
operations in compliance with OIE standards. 
 
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