The World Organization for Animal Health ( OIE ) develops and publishes two types of international health standards for animals and animal products – trade standards and biological standards. These standards are developed through elected Specialist Commissions and are adopted by OIE Members during the annual OIE General Session.
In order to assure sanitary safety of international trade in animals and animal products, the health measures are detailed to be used by the veterinary services or other competent authorities of importing and exporting countries in establishing health regulations for the safe importation of animals and animal products. Such measures aim to avoid the transfer of agents pathogenic for animals and/or humans, without the imposition of unjustified trade restrictions.
The standards of the OIE are the primary references for international trade and the adoption of these standards by national veterinary services and other competent authorities allows countries and territories that are Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to meet their relevant obligations under the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the SPS Agreement).
The four publications containing the OIE standards are:
- the Terrestrial Animal Health Code
- the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals
- the Aquatic Animal Health Code
- the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals.
| Sub-Category |
International
|
| Standard for |
animals and animal products
|
| Focus |
animal health and animal welfare
|
| Structure |
The Terrestrial Animal Health Code and Aquatic Animal Health Code, aim to assure the sanitary safety of international trade in terrestrial animals (mammals, birds and bees) and aquatic animals (amphibians, fish, crustaceans and molluscs) and their products. The Codes contain standards on animal disease surveillance and recommended control methods. In recent years the Codes have expanded to cover animal welfare (Terrestrial and Aquatic Codes) and food safety (Terrestrial Code).
The Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals and the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (referred to hereafter as the Manuals), provide a harmonised approach to disease diagnosis by describing internationally agreed laboratory diagnostic techniques. The Terrestrial Manual also includes requirements for the production and control of biological products (mainly vaccines).
OIE standards/recommendations are used by governments to determine and refine policies and programmes under their national veterinary control system.
|
| Conformity Requirements |
Conformity with national standards that are harmonized with OIE standards varies according with the standard.
|
| Auditing System |
|
| Geographic Focus |
International
|
| Website |
http://www.oie.int/eng/en_index.htm
|