First Global Conference on Veterinary
Legislation
Djerba, Tunisia 7-9 December 2010
Dr Sarah Kahn
Head, International Trade Department

Plan
- Introduction
- OIE standards
- OIE PVS Tool
- OIE Guidelines on veterinary legislation

International standards, guidelines and recommendations for animal health and zoonoses = the standards, guidelines and recommendations developed under the auspices of the
OIE
- OIE standards integrate the outcome of a risk assessment and thus make additional risk assessments redundant
- A majority of OIE standards are now used for national disease control measures
Animal Health
OIE
SPS Agreement
Food Safety
CODEX
Plant Health
IPPC
International standard setting organisations

Safe and
Abundant
Animal
Production
Food
Safety
Alleviation of
Poverty
Public
Health
(zoonoses)
Market
Access
4

Terrestrial Animal Health Code – mammals, birds and bees
Aquatic Animal Health Code – fish, molluscs, crustaceans and amphibians
Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for
Terrestrial Animals
Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic
Animals

Legal basis:
OIE Terrestrial Animal
Health Code

Adopted at GS78
Article 3.1.2. Fundamental principles of quality
New point 6. Veterinary legislation
.
• Veterinary legislation is a fundamental element of quality supporting good governance.
• Legislation should be suitably flexible to allow efficient responses to changing situations.
• It should define and document responsibilities and structure of the organisations.
• A similar demonstration by VS in charge of veterinary public health activities .

OIE PVS Pathway for efficient
Veterinary Services
Evaluation
PVS
« diagnosis »
PVS
Gap Analysis
« prescription»
OIE collaborates with governments,
Stakeholders and donors (if needed)
« treatment »
Veterinary Services
Strategic Plan
Modernisation of legislation
Public/private
Partnerships
Country / Donors
Investment / Projects
Veterinary
Education
Laboratories
PVS
Follow-Up
Evaluation mission

OIE Regions
Africa
Americas
Asia & Pacific
Europe
Middle East
Total
OIE
Members
52
29
31
53
12
177
PVS
Requests received
46
21
16
13
12
108
PVS Missions done
43
19
14
12
11
99
Reports available
33
15
11
9
4
72

State of play legislation – 01/12/2010
OIE Regions
Africa
Americas
Asia and Pacific
Europe
Middle East
TOTAL
52
29
31
53
12
177
OIE Members
Legislation Missions
Requests received
Legislation
Missions done
3
3
16
2
4
28
3
1
8
2
3
17
Legislation documents available
3
1
6
0
2
12
Not including pilot visits to three countries.

PVS
4 fundamental components
Critical competencies
(6 - 12)
5 levels of advancement

 5 levels of advancement
(qualitative) for each critical competency
 A higher level assumes compliance with all preceding levels
Level 1 no compliance
Level 5 full compliance with OIE standards

 External independent evaluation
 Upon request of the country
– according to its context
 To assess
– compliance with OIE Standards
– strengths / weaknesses
– gaps / areas for improvement
 Not an audit or an inspection.

New competencies
Management of resources/operations (I-
11)
Animal welfare (II-14)
Division of competencies
Coordination capability of the VS (I-6)
Food safety (II-8)
Identification and traceability (II-13)
Vet. Statutory Body (III-5)

• Continuing education (I-3)
• Stability of structures/sustainability of policies
(I-5)
• Operational / Emergency funding / Capital investment (I-8, 9, 10)
• Veterinary medicines and biologicals (II-9)
• Emerging issues (II-11)
• Preparation of legislation and regulations (IV-1)
• Implementation of legislation and regulations and stakeholder compliance (IV-2)

Definition: The capability of the VS to document and manage their resources and operations in order to analyze, plan and improve both efficiency and effectiveness.
• New competency reflects the needs of developing countries
• Note: some aspects covered by coordination (I-
6) and funding (I-8)

Definition: The authority and capability of the VS to implement the animal welfare standards of the
OIE as published in the Terrestrial Code .
• Compliance with OIE standards
• Covers standards on transportation, slaughter and killing for disease control only
• Should be considered judiciously

A. Internal coordination (chain of command)
• To coordinate its resources and national activities (public and private sectors) with a clear chain of command
B. External coordination
• To coordinate its resources and activities with other relevant authorities as appropriate
• Relevant authorities include other ministries and competent authorities, national agencies and decentralised institutions.

Food safety (II-8)
A. Ante and post mortem inspection at abattoirs and associated premises
• To implement and, manage the inspection of animals destined for slaughter at abattoirs and associated premises
B. Inspection of collection, processing and distribution of products of animal origin
• To implement, manage and coordinate food safety measures on Inspection of collection, processing and distribution of products of animals
A&B also covers coordination with other authorities

Identification and traceability (II-13)
A. Animal identification and movement control
• To identify animals under their mandate and trace their history, location and distribution for animal health, food safety, etc.
B. Identification and traceability of products of animal origin
• To identify and trace products of animal origin for animal health, food safety, etc.
A&B in coordination with stakeholders

Veterinary statutory body (III-5)
A. VSB authority
The VSB is an autonomous authority responsible for the regulation of the veterinarians and veterinary para-professionals.
B. VSB capacity
The capacity of VSB to implement its functions and objectives in conformity with OIE standards.

Preparation of legislation and regulations (IV-1)
Definition: The authority and capability of the VS to actively participate in the preparation of national legislation and regulations in domains under mandate in order to warranty its quality with respect to principles of legal drafting and legal issues (internal quality), and its accessibility, acceptability, and technical, social and economical applicability
(external quality).

Implementation of legislation and regulations and stakeholder compliance (IV-2 )
Definition: The authority and capability of the VS to ensure that stakeholders are in compliance with legislation and regulations under the VS mandate.

 Assessment based on facts and evidence, not impressions
 Donors have accepted the OIE PVS official procedure in the evaluation of performance of VS
 A prerequisite and a guide in helping countries request national and/or international financial support.
 Experts trained and certified by the OIE

Country PVS reports are either:
• Confidential (very few);
• Available for transmission to Donors and
Partners, incl. international development organisations having an agreement with the OIE
(73 reports to date);
• Fully in the public domain (12% to date): Belize;
Bolivia; Brazil; Guinea-Bissau; Namibia; Panama;
Paraguay; Uruguay; and Vietnam http://www.oie.int/eng/oie/organisation/en_oie_pvs_eval_reports.htm?e1d2

On the OIE internet site since 2008 http://www.oie.int/eng/oie/organisation/A_Guidelines_Vet%20Leg.pdf
Appear to have been well accepted by
OIE Members
Will be proposed for adoption in the
in 2011 .

• General principles
• Quality of legislation
• Competent authorities and veterinary chain of command
• Powers of officials
• Penalties
• Administration, financial resources
• Etc. …

• The veterinary profession
• Laboratories
• Delegation of tasks
• Animal production
• Animal diseases
• Animal welfare
• Veterinary products (medicines and vaccines)
• Food safety
• International trade

s.kahn@oie.int
Organisation
Mondiale de la Santé
Animale
World
Organisation for Animal
Health
Organización
Mundial de Sanidad
Animal
12 rue de Prony, 75017 Paris, France – www.oie.int – oie@oie.int