OIE, FDA Sign Cooperation Agreement on Vet Meds
GLOBAL - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has signed an agreement with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in support of the standard setting process and international capacity-building activities.The terms of the agreement consider the strengthening of international standards and guidelines an essential prerequisite to the establishment and effective implementation of adequate and appropriate national legislations covering all aspects of veterinary medicines, including registration, quality control, distribution, monitoring of quantities and final use.
This financial support will assist the OIE in the development and improvement of global and regional cooperation, as well as in the establishment and enforcement of guidelines aiming at harmonizing the regulatory framework between OIE Members. These activities will enhance capacities of OIE national focal points in charge of veterinary products and encourage countries to allocate appropriate human and financial resources to veterinary services and laboratories in order to properly implement – among others – the OIE standards and guidelines related to veterinary products and their control.
Dr Bernard Vallat, Director General of the OIE, said: "The goal is to promote harmonisation of registration requirements for veterinary drugs and the prudent distribution and use of these drugs, under the control of the veterinary services – at national, regional and global levels – in order to better preserve animal health and guarantee the safety and wholesomeness of food of animal origin.
"Animal disease control is key to ensure food security and food safety at global level; a proper use of veterinary products is instrumental in achieving this crucial objective," he added.
The signing of this agreement is also an indication of the commitment of key donors and national agencies to encourage the OIE in its efforts to improve veterinary governance through the establishment and implementation of harmonized international standards worldwide in cooperation with other organisations such as VICH (International Cooperation on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products) and relevant agencies of the United Nations.