Role of the AWWG and Responsibilities of OIE’s National

Focal Points

Regional Seminar for OIE National Focal Points for Animal Welfare from the Middle East and from North Africa Amman, Jordan, 17-18 March 2014

Dr Leopoldo StuardoCharge de Mission, International Trade Department

World Organisation for Animal Health

OBJECTIVES OF THE SEMINAROBJECTIVES OF THE SEMINAR

OBJECTIVES

• Support the member countries to implement OIE animal welfare standards (eight standards in Terrestrial Code and three in Aquatic Code);

• Discuss the implications of animal welfare for international trade, including international, regional and bilateral trade agreements;

• Reiterate the OIE animal welfare guidelines and identify the role and responsibility of national Veterinary Services, esp. Focal Points in this field;

• Share experience among member countries and provide practical examples to help Veterinary Services develop and implement veterinary legislation;

• Promote the discussion on the role of regional strategies to support implementation of the OIE animal welfare standards.

FIFTH STRATEGIC PLAN 2011-2015 REINFORCING PRIORITY MISSIONS

• Animal health is a key component of animal welfare

• The OIE is recognised worldwide as the leader in developing international standards on animal welfare

Animal welfare: a strategic commitment by the OIE

OIE ANIMAL WELFARE WORKING GROUP (AWWG)

One of the OIE’s 3 permanent

working groups

AWWG MANDATE• Development of standards leading to good practices in animal welfare

(AW);• Provision of expert advice on AW issues to OIE Specialist

commissions;• Provision of expert advice on AW issues to OIE Members and to

stakeholder groups, including:– other international organisations;– industry / consumers;

• Provision of reports on AW issues;• Maintaining international databases on:

– AW information, including different national legislation and policies;– internationally recognised AW experts;– examples of good AW practice and implementation of OIE standards.

AWWG MISSION• To advise the Director General and the Aquatic and Terrestrial

Commissions concerning OIE priorities and proposed activities in the field of animal welfare;

• Preparation and circulation of educational material to enhance awareness of OIE Members and stakeholders;

• Promotion of the inclusion of AW in undergraduate and post-graduate veterinary curricula;

• Identification of AW research needs and encouragement of collaboration between centres of research.

AWWG MEMBERSHIP• Representation from all OIE regions

• international NGOs and industry• inputs from academia, the research community

and relevant stakeholders.

• Dr Sira Abdul Rahman (Chair), Retd. Dean Bangalore Veterinary College (India)• Dr David Bayvel, Chief Veterinary Advisor WSPA (New Zealand)• Prof. Hassan Aidaros, Professor of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Banha Univ. (Egypt)• Prof. David Fraser, Professor and Chair in Animal Welfare Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Centre for Applied Ethics

University of British Columbia (Canada)• Dr Andrea Gavinell,i Head of Unit European Commission Directorate General Health and Consumers Unit D5 – Animal

Welfare (Italy)• Dr Marosi Molomo, Director of Livestock Services Department of Livestock Services Ministry of Agriculture and Food

(Botswana)• Dr Peter Thornber, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australian Government (Australia)Other Participants (Industry) • Mr Luc Mirabito, Chef de projet "Bien-être animal" - International Dairy Federation Institut de l'Elevage (France)• Dr Vincent Guyonnet, International Egg Commission (France)• Dr Jacques Servière, International Meat Secretariat (France)

Animal welfare collaborating centres

Ad hoc Group meetings

Representing the OIE in relevant expert meetings

Proposing future priorities to the Commissions for submission to Member countries.

OIE AWWG 1/2

Amendments to adopted standards

– New scientific evidence

– Standard setting procedure

Aquatic animal welfare standards

Regional Commission engagement

– Regional Animal Welfare Strategies (RAWS)

– Focal point seminar programme

OIE AWWG 2/2

FOCAL POINTS

RESPONSIBILITIES Focal points

• The Delegate is requested to designate, if possible, national focal

points to comply with national obligations and to support him/her in

the following fields: – Animal disease notification;

– Wildlife;

– Aquatic animals;

– Veterinary products;

– Animal production food safety;

– Animal welfare;

– Communication.

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE OIE NATIONAL FOCAL POINTS 1/3

• Activities of the focal points in relation to OIE obligations are under the authority of the OIE Delegate.

• Information transmitted to the OIE from focal points must be under the designated authority of OIE Delegate whether focal points are:– under the jurisdiction of the Veterinary Authority, or– located in other Departments or Ministries not under VA

jurisdiction

• From a legal perspective, the OIE considers the official OIE Delegate to be the unique representative of the country.

Terms of reference:

•Establish a network of animal welfare experts within his country or communicate with existing network;

•Establish dialogue, cooperation and communication between the Competent Authority for animal welfare and other relevant authorities;

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE OIE NATIONAL FOCAL POINTS 2/3

• Receive reports of the Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission (Code Commission) and of the OIE Animal Welfare Working Group and other relevant reports and conduct the in-country consultation process;

• Prepare comments for the Delegate on relevant meeting reports, including comments on the proposals for new or revised OIE standards related to animal welfare.

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE OIE NATIONAL FOCAL POINTS 3/3

STANDARD SETTING PROCEDURE

OIE SPECIALIST COMMISSIONS AND STANDARDS

Biological Standards Commission "Laboratories Commission"

Biological Standards Commission "Laboratories Commission"

Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission "Code Commission"

Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission "Code Commission"

Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission"Aquatic Animals Commission"

Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission"Aquatic Animals Commission"

Each one of the 178 OIE Member Countries has an equal voice in the development

and adoption of standards and

EACH MEMBER COUNTRY HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENGAGE WITH THE

OIE IN THIS IMPORTANT WORK.

UpdatingInternational Standards

Delegates

ISSUE / PROBLEM

SpecialistCommissions

SpecialistCommissions

Review

Advice of experts or other Specialist Commissions

Draft text

Adoption

Committee, Commissions,

Delegates

Committee, Commissions,

Delegates

1 2

OIE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD

Comments

19

World Assembly

4

1

2 3

ROLES OF THE DELEGATES

1. Propose a new chapter or an amendment to an existing chapter

2. Comment on the draft chapters3. Adopt the new / amended chapters

4. Keep the VS and AD diagnostic lab updated on the OIE standards, andMonitor national legislation to ensure their alignment with OIE standards, recommendations and guidelines

432

1

Adopt 5-year Strategic PlanAdopt annual Work Programs of the Spec. Comm.

HOW TO COMMENT ON THE DRAFT CHAPTERS

1. Get the information:

• Each year:

• On the Delegate website(OIE secure access system)

March October

DELEGATE WEBSITE https://web.oie.int/wahis/content.php?page=home&lo=1

Username and

Password

Login type

Language EN/ES/FR

Delegate website Information

HOW TO COMMENT ON THE DRAFT CHAPTERS

1. Get the information:

• Report of the Code Commission (Code)

• Report of the Aquatic Commission (Code + Manual)

• Report of the Biological Standard Commission (Manual)

• (Report of the Scientific Commission)

HOW TO COMMENT ON THE DRAFT CHAPTERS

1. Get the information:

(example)

• Report of the Code Commission (Code)– Introduction– Part A– Part B

• Important to read: Reports of the OIE Working and Ad Hoc Groups

HOW TO COMMENT ON THE DRAFT CHAPTERS

2. In country discussion/consultation:

Delegate

FPFP FP FP FP AW FP

FP

In-country consultation

UNIVERSITIESPRIVATE

VETERNARIANS

PRIMARYPRODUCTION

SECTOR

INDUSTRIAL SECTOR

RESEARCHINSTITUTIONS

DELEGATE

CHIEF VETERINARY

OFFICER

NATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR THE ANALYSIS OF OIE STANDARDS

DELEGATES

OIE’s

Regional

Office

HOW TO COMMENT ON THE DRAFT CHAPTERS

HOW TO COMMENT ON THE DRAFT CHAPTERS

3. Provide Comments to the OIEOIE Member Countries have scheduled opportunities to comment on draft

standards.

OctoberOctober MarchMarch MayGSMayGS

Written comments

Written comments

Oral statements or requests for clarification

Thank you for your attention!