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Each country has the right to stop importation if the risk analysis
demonstrates an unacceptable risk. Rules for risk analysis are layed
down in the Animal Health Code of the Office International des Epizooties
(OIE). The SPS Agreement of the WTO recognises the OIE as the relevant
international organisation responsible for the development and promotion
of international animal health standards, guidelines, and recommendations
affecting trade in live animals and animal products.
In particular, live animals but also animal products are by far the most
important vehicles for spreading diseases by trade.
OIE
The Animal Health Code regulates more than 80 diseases and assists
the Veterinary Administrations to use it in developing their animal health
measures applicable to imports and exports of animals and animal products.
The recommendations in the Code are designed to prevent diseases being
introduced into the importing country, taking into account the nature of
the commodity and the animal health status of the exporting country. This
means that, correctly applied, they ensure that the intended importation
can take place with an optimal level of sanitary security, incorporating
the latest scientific findings and available techniques. In other words,
each recommendation relating to a disease is based on the assumption that the importing
country is free of that disease.
How to demonstrate freedom from a disease?
According to the Animal Health Code, countries wishing to obtain
recognition of freedom from a disease must demonstrate that they
have a reliable system of disease control and surveillance, that
the disease is notifiable, and that they have an effective veterinary organisation.
Surveillance
There are two different surveillance systems:
1. The passive surveillance system which relies completely
on disease awareness of farmers, veterinarians, traders, slaughterhouse
people, etc. These people must notify compulsory any suspect case to the
Veterinary Administration.
2. Active surveillance means the screening of an animal
population in respect to the clinical signs, pathological lesions, seroreactors, etc.
A national epidemiological system should incorporate disease surveillance,
description of host population characteristics, and environmental assessment.
An effective veterinary infrastructure is necessary to support this epidemiological system.
Veterinary Services
The quality of the Veterinary Services depends on a set of factors,
which include fundamental principles of an ethical, organisational and technical nature.
Compliance with these fundamental principles (professionality, independence,
integrity, etc) is important to the establishment and maintenance of confidence
in its international veterinary certificates.
The Veterinary Services must be able to demonstrate by means of an appropriate
legislation and organisation that they are in a position to have control of
the establishment and application of animal health measures, and of international
veterinary certification activities. In particular, they shall define and document
the responsibilities and structure of the organisations in charge of the animal
identification system, control of animal movements, animal disease control and
reporting systems, epidemiological surveillance and communication of epidemiological information.
The Veterinary Services shall develop and document appropriate procedures and
standards for the implementation and management of animal health measures and
international veterinary certification activities. These procedures and standards
may for example relate to:
prevention and control of disease outbreaks
epidemiological surveillance and zoning
inspection and sampling techniques
diagnostic tests for animal diseases
Preventing the spread of Classical Swine Fever (CSF) and Bovine Spongiform
Encephalopathie (BSE) is discussed in respect to risk analysis, freedom
from disease, surveillance and quality of Veterinary Services.
14.9.2000
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