OIE Provides Guidance on Veterinary Legislation

GLOBAL - The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is supporting its Members modernise their veterinary legislation by making guidelines available on its web site.

4 August 2009

3 minute read

The OIE is aware that in many countries veterinary legislation became inadequate to address the challenges and new threats of today and of the future. At the request of its Members, the organisation has developed and published in the web site guidelines on all the essential elements to be covered in veterinary legislation.

The new guidelines published by the OIE state that the key functions of Veterinary Authorities must at least include surveillance, early detection and control of animal diseases and zoonoses (diseases that can affect humans), animal products food safety and sanitary certification of animals and animal products for export.

In the face of increasing global trade, climate change and the emergence and reemergence of diseases that can rapidly spread across international borders, the Veterinary Services need an effective legislative framework to fulfil their key function.

As part of the OIE global initiative for Good Governance of Veterinary Services, the new recommendations on the quality of veterinary legislation have the objective of helping Members improve governance and meet the standards set out in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, legislation being a key component of Good Governance.

At a Members' request, the OIE may conduct an evaluation of the quality of its Veterinary Services using the OIE PVS Tool (Performance of Veterinary Services), PVS Gap analysis and follow-up missions to strengthen key elements of the veterinary infrastructure, including the legislation.

Any Member that has received an OIE PVS Evaluation may benefit from a follow up mission dedicated to the provision of advice and assistance in modernising the national veterinary legislation.

The new guidelines will be used to update national legislation where gaps in legislation are identified and accepted by the Member Country in the course of an OIE PVS Evaluation.

The OIE encourages governments and other interested parties to endorse these new guidelines. Any enquiries should be directed to the OIE Regional Activities Department ([email protected]).