Annex 22

USER'S GUIDE

A. Introduction

1) The WOAH *Terrestrial Animal Health Code*(hereafter referred to as the *Terrestrial Code*) establishes standards for the improvement of terrestrial animal health and welfare and veterinary public health worldwide. The purpose of this guide is to advise the Veterinary Authorities of WOAH Member Countries on how to use the *Terrestrial Code*.

2) Veterinary Authorities should use the standards in the *Terrestrial Code*to set up measures providing for early detection, internal reporting, notification, control or eradication of pathogenic agents, including zoonotic ones, in terrestrial animals (mammals, birds, reptiles and bees) and preventing their spread via international trade in animals and animal products, while avoiding unjustified sanitary barriers to trade.

3) WOAH standards are based on the most recent scientific and technical information. Correctly applied, they protect animal health and welfare and veterinary public health during production and trade in animals and animal products, and in the use of animals.

4) The absence of chapters, articles or recommendations on particular pathogenic agents or commodities does not preclude the application of appropriate sanitary measures by the Veterinary Authorities, provided they are based on risk analyses conducted in accordance with the *Terrestrial Code*.

5) The year that a chapter was first adopted and the year of its last revision are noted at the end of each chapter.

6) The complete text of the *Terrestrial Code*is available on WOAH Web site and individual chapters may be downloaded from: https://www.woah.org/.

B. Terrestrial Code content

1)	Key terms and expressions used in more than one chapter in the *Terrestrial Code* are defined in the Glossary, in the case where common dictionary definitions are not deemed to be adequate. The reader should be aware of the definitions given in the Glossary when reading and using the *Terrestrial Code*. Defined terms appear in italics. In the on-line version of the *Terrestrial Code*, a hyperlink leads to the relevant definition.

2)	The term “(under study)” is found in some rare instances, with reference to an article or part of an article. This means that this part of the text has not been adopted by the World Assembly of Delegates and the particular provisions are thus not part of the *Terrestrial Code*.

3)	The standards in the chapters of Section 1 are designed for the implementation of measures for the diagnosis, surveillance and notification of diseases, infections and infestations. The standards include procedures for notification to WOAH and procedures for the recognition of the animal health status of a country, zone or compartment.

4)	The standards in Section 2 are designed to guide the importing country in conducting import risk analysis in the absence of WOAH recommendations on particular pathogenic agents or commodities. The importing country should also use these standards to justify import measures which are more stringent than existing WOAH standards.

5)	The standards in the chapters of Section 3 are designed for the establishment, maintenance and evaluation of Veterinary Services, including veterinary legislation and communication. These standards are intended to assist the Veterinary Services and Veterinary Authority of Member Countries to meet their objectives of improving terrestrial animal health and welfare and veterinary public health, as well as to establish and maintain confidence in their international veterinary certificates.

6)	The standards in the chapters of Section 4 are designed for the implementation of measures for the prevention and control of pathogenic agents. Measures in this section include animal identification, traceability, zoning, compartmentalisation, disposal of dead animals, disinfection, disinsection and general hygiene precautions. Some chapters address the specific sanitary measures to be applied for the collection and processing of semen and embryos of animals.

7)	The standards in the chapters of Section 5 are designed for the implementation of general sanitary measures for trade. They address veterinary certification and the measures applicable by the exporting, transit and importing countries. A range of model veterinary certificates is provided to facilitate consistent documentation in international trade.

8)	The standards in the chapters of Section 6 are designed for the implementation of preventive measures in animal production systems. These measures are intended to assist Member Countries in meeting their veterinary public health objectives. They include ante- and post-mortem inspection, control of hazards in feed, biosecurity at the animal production level, and the control of antimicrobial resistance in animals.

9)	The standards in the chapters of Section 7 are designed for the implementation of animal welfare measures. The standards cover production, transport, and slaughter or killing, as well as the animal welfare aspects of free-roaming dog population control and the use of animals in research and education.

10)	The standards in each of the chapters of Sections 8 to 16, i.e. disease-specific chapters, are designed  mainly to prevent the pathogenic agents of WOAH listed diseases~~, infections or infestations~~ from being introduced into an importing country or from spreading within a country. Some chapters include specific measures to prevent and control the infections of global concern. Sections 8 to 16 each relate to the host species of the pathogenic agent: multiple species or species of Apinae, Aves, Bovinae, Equidae, Leporidae, Caprinae, Suidae and Camelidae. Although WOAH aims to include a chapter for each WOAH listed disease, not all WOAH listed diseases have been covered yet by a specific chapter. This is work in progress, depending on available scientific knowledge and the priorities set by the World Assembly of Delegates.

~~The standards take into account the nature of the traded commodity, the animal health status of the exporting country, zone or compartment, and the risk measures applicable to each commodity.~~

A disease-specific chapter covers some or all of the following components:

· Chapter title and number;

· Article on general provisions, including definition~~s~~ of the disease and the animal hosts that play a significant role in the epidemiology of the disease, and definition of its occurrence (‘case definition’)~~, and the animal hosts that play a significant role in the epidemiology of the disease~~;

· Article on safe commodities;

· Articles on provisions for animal health status applied to countries, zones, compartments or herds/flocks;

· Articles on recommendations for safe trade of commodities;

· Articles on inactivation of the pathogenic agents present in specific animal products, materials or fomites; and

· Articles on surveillance of the disease.

Not all disease-specific chapters include all these components and some chapters may include only one ~~the first~~ article on the definition of occurrence for the purpose of notification to WOAH. Each chapter includes only those provisions considered, at the time of adoption, relevant to address WOAH Members’ needs with regards to the specific disease; and that are supported by sound scientific and technical knowledge. 

The recommendations in these chapters that are related to international trade ~~These standards~~ assume that the pathogenic agent is either not present in the importing country or is the subject of a control or eradication programme. ~~Sections 8 to 16 each relate to the host species of the pathogenic agent: multiple species or species of Apinae, Aves, Bovinae, Equidae, Leporidae, Caprinae, Suidae and Camelidae. Some chapters include specific measures to prevent and control the infections of global concern. Although WOAH aims to include a chapter for each WOAH listed disease, not all WOAH listed diseases have been covered yet by a specific chapter. This is work in progress, depending on available scientific knowledge and the priorities set by the World Assembly of Delegates.~~The sanitary measures recommended in the standards take into account the nature of the moved or traded commodity, the animal health status of the exporting country, zone or compartment of origin, and the risk mitigation measures applicable to each commodity.

C. Specific issues

1) Notification

Chapter 1.1. describes Member Countries' obligations under Organic Statutes of the Office International des Epizooties. Listed and emerging diseases, as prescribed in Chapter 1.1., are compulsorily notifiable. Member Countries are encouraged to also provide information to WOAH on other animal health events of epidemiological significance.

Chapter 1.2. describes the criteria for the inclusion of an infection or infestation in the WOAH List and Chapter 1.3. gives the current list. Diseases are divided into nine categories based on the host species of the aetiological agents.

2) Diagnostic tests and vaccines

It is recommended that specified diagnostic tests and vaccines in *Terrestrial Code*chapters be used with a reference to the relevant section in the WOAH *Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals*(hereafter referred to as the *Terrestrial Manual*). Experts responsible for facilities used for disease diagnosis and vaccine production should be fully conversant with the standards in the *Terrestrial Manual*.

3) Freedomfroma disease, infection or infestation

Article 1.4.6. provides general principles for declaring a country or zone free from a disease, infection or infestation~~.~~~~This article applies when there are no~~and may be complemented by specific requirements in the listed disease-specific chapters.

4) Prevention and control

Chapters 4.4. and 4.5. describe the measures that should be implemented to establish zones and compartments. Zoning and compartmentalisation should be considered as some of the tools used to control diseases and to facilitate safe trade.

Chapters 4.6. to 4.12. describe the measures which should be implemented during collection and processing of semen and embryos of animals, including micromanipulation and cloning, in order to prevent animal health risks, especially when trading these commodities. Although the measures relate principally to WOAH listed diseases or infections, general standards apply to all infectious disease risks. Moreover, in Chapter 4.8. diseases that are not listed are marked as such but are included for the information of Member Countries.

Chapter 4.15. addresses the specific issue of the control of bee diseases and some of its trade implications. This chapter should be read in conjunction with the specific bee disease chapters in Section 9.

Chapter 6.5. is designed for the implementation of general biosecurity measures in intensive poultry production. Chapters 6.6., 6.13. and 6.14. provide recommendations for some specific on-farm prevention and control plans for the unlisted foodborne pathogenic agent *Salmonella*as part of the Veterinary Services mission to prevent, eliminate or control food safety hazards in animal production.

Chapter 6.12. deals specifically with the zoonotic risk associated with the movements of non-human primates and gives standards for certification, transportation and import conditions for these animals.

5) Trade requirements

Animal health measures related to international trade should be based on WOAH standards. A Member Country may authorise the importation of animals or animal products into its territory under conditions different from those recommended by the *Terrestrial Code*. To scientifically justify more stringent measures, the importing country should conduct a risk analysis in accordance with WOAH standards, as described in Chapter 2.1. Members of the WTO should refer to the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement).

Chapters 5.1. to 5.3. describe the general obligations and ethical responsibilities of importing and exporting countries in international trade. Veterinary Authorities and all veterinarians directly involved in international trade should be familiar with these chapters. Chapter 5.3. also describes the WOAH informal procedure for dispute mediation.

WOAH aims to include an article listing the commodities that are considered safe for trade without the need for risk mitigation measures specifically directed against a particular listed disease, infection or infestation, regardless of the status of the country or zone of origin for the agent in question, at the beginning of each listed disease-specific chapter in Sections 8 to 16. This is work in progress and some chapters do not yet contain articles listing safe commodities. When a list of safe commodities is present in a chapter, importing countries should not apply trade restrictions to such commodities with respect to the agent in question. Chapter 2.2. describes the criteria used to assess the safety of commodities.

6) International veterinary certificates

An international veterinary certificate is an official document that the Veterinary Authority of an exporting country issues in accordance with Chapters 5.1. and 5.2. It lists animal health requirements and, where appropriate, public health requirements for the exported commodity. The quality of the exporting country's Veterinary Services is essential in providing assurances to trading partners regarding the safety of exported animals and products. This includes the Veterinary Authority's ethical approach to the provision of veterinary certificates and their history in meeting their notification obligations.

International veterinary certificates underpin international trade and provide assurances to the importing country regarding the health status of the animals and products imported. The measures prescribed should take into account the health status of both exporting and importing countries, and zones or compartments within them, and be based upon the standards in the *Terrestrial Code*.

The following steps should be taken when drafting international veterinary certificates:

a) identify the diseases, infections or infestations from which the importing country is justified in seeking protection because of its own health status. Importing countries should not impose measures in regards to diseases that occur in their own territory but are not subject to official control programmes;

b) for commodities capable of transmitting these diseases, infections or infestations through international trade, the importing country should apply the relevant articles in the listed disease-specific chapters. The application of the articles should be adapted to the disease status of the country, zone or compartment of origin. Such status should be established according to Article 1.4.6. except when articles of the relevant listed disease chapter specify otherwise;

c) when preparing international veterinary certificates, the importing country should endeavour to use terms and expressions in accordance with the definitions given in the Glossary. International veterinary certificates should be kept as simple as possible and should be clearly worded, to avoid misunderstanding of the importing country's requirements;

d) Chapters 5.10. to 5.13. provide, as further guidance to Member Countries, model certificates that should be used as a baseline.

7) Guidance notes for importers and exporters

It is recommended that Veterinary Authorities prepare “guidance notes” to assist importers and exporters understand trade requirements. These notes should identify and explain the trade conditions, including the measures to be applied before and after export and during transport and unloading, and the relevant legal obligations and operational procedures. The guidance notes should advise on all details to be included in the health certification accompanying the consignment to its destination. Exporters should also be reminded of the International Air Transport Association rules governing air transport of animals and animal products.

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Report of the Meeting of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission/February 2024	1

D. Name of animal species

In the *Terrestrial Code*, common terms (in bold in the table below) referring to animals are based on scientific names as shown below.

In each chapter of the *Terrestrial Code*, scientific names of the animals are provided when the vernacular names used in the chapter do not include all the species as described in this table, e.g. ‘bovines (*Bos indicus*, *B. taurus*, *B. grunniens, Bubalus bubalis* and *Syncerus caffer*)’, which in that example does not include animals of genus bison, or when the list of animals is very long, e.g. ‘animals of the families *Suidae* and *Cervidae*, the subfamilies *bovinae*, *caprinae* and *antilopinae* of the family *Bovidae*, and *Camelus bactrianus*’.