In a ceremony during the OIE's recent 76th General Session in Paris, IPC first vice-president Tage Lysgaard of Denmark and OIE director-general Bernard Vallat signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation (MOU) that recognizes the IPC as a legitimate international organization in the eyes of the OIE.

IPC first vice-president Tage Lysgaard (right) signs the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation with Dr Bernard Vallat, OIE director-general

Under the memorandum, the OIE will look to the IPC for input when developing on global animal health issues.

Christian Lohbauer (IPC's second vice-president and representing the Brazilian Poultry Producers Association, ABEF) witnessed the signing of the agreement, which provides a framework for cooperation between the IPC and the OIE on poultry health and disease issues of common interest. Dr Barry O'Neil, president of the OIE, also took part in the ceremony, which took place at OIE headquarters.

Mr Lysgaard, also director-general of the European poultry association AVEC, gave a presentation on the IPC and its mission during the general session, which included attendees from 172 OIE member countries as well as representatives from the World Trade Organization, Codex Alimentarius and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN.

"The agreement and MOU means that the IPC is obliged to keep the OIE informed on its activities," Mr Lysgaard said. "In turn, the IPC will be invited to participate in the OIE's general meetings to give reports on what we're doing."

Signing ceremony at OIE headquarters in Paris (left to right): IPC Second vice-president Christian Lohbauer; Dr Barry O'Neil, president of the OIE; Dr Bernard Vallat, director-general of the OIE; and IPC first vice-president, Tage Lysgaard.

Jim Sumner, president of the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council, who also serves as president of the IPC, said that official recognition by the OIE is a major step forward for the organization.

"This has been a major goal of our organization since the beginning," he said.

"Having the support of an organization with the status of the OIE, not only helps give the IPC a more meaningful purpose to its members, but is also the logical stepping stone to recognition by Codex and other organizations as a bona fide organization that represents the international poultry community."

"We have a major role to play with the international organizations," said Mr Lysgaard.

"Our members produce a commodity that is wanted and needed in all parts of the world without limitation. Poultry is the most efficient feed converter, and the mission of FAO, for example, is feeding the people of the world. We hope to obtain recognition by FAO, Codex and the WTO later this year."

Poultry industry representatives in more than 20 countries are members of the IPC, which was formed in 2005 as a cooperative forum for the world's poultry-producing countries. Country members of the IPC are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, the EU, Germany, Honduras, Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Russia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the U.K., the U.S., Ukraine, and Vietnam. Associate members represent the following countries: Denmark, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Russia and the USA.

The IPC represents about 85 per cent of the world's poultry production, and nearly 96 per cent of global trade in poultry meat.