OIE and International Standards 



The OIE was established in Paris, France, in 1924 with the signing of an international 

 agreement by 28 countries. As of 2004, the organization has 166 member nations, 

 each of which is represented by a delegate who, in most cases, is the chief veterinary 

 officer of the country. The mission of the OIE (the world organization for animal 

 health) is to prevent the spread of animal diseases. To achieve this mission, the OIE 

 has six primary functions: ( 1 ) to ensure transparency in the global animal disease 

 and zoonosis situation; (2) to collect, analyze, and disseminate scientific veterinary 

 information; (3) to provide expertise and encourage international solidarity in 

 the control of animal diseases; (4) within its mandate under the World Trade 

 Organization (WTO), Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement, to safeguard 

 world trade by publishing health standards for international trade in animals and 

 animal products; (5) to improve the legal framework and resources of national 

 veterinary services; and (6) to provide a better guarantee of the safety of foods of 

 animal origin and to promote animal welfare through a science-based approach. 



Each member country reports the animal diseases it detects in its territory. OIE 

 then disseminates the information to other countries, which can take necessary 

 preventive action. One of OIE's main missions is to improve knowledge of, as well as 

 the transparency of, the world animal health situation. To achieve these objectives, 

 OIE manages the world animal health information system, which is based on the 

 commitment of member countries to declare the main animal diseases, including 

 zoonoses, through OIE. The United States is a member country and takes very 

 seriously its commilmcnt to reporting diseases occurring here based on OIE 

 requirements. As of January 2005, a single list of notifiable diseases was implemented 

 by the OIE. 



The following diseases are currenth' included in the list. 



Multiple Species Diseases 



• Anthrax 



• Aujeszky's disease 



• Echin()coccosis/h\datidosis 



• Heartwater 



• Leptospirosis 



• Q fever 



• Rabies 



• Paratuberculosis 



• New world screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) 



• Old world screwworm (Chrysomya bezziana) 



6-10 



