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Australia and the World Organisation for Animal Health
World Organisation for Animal Health
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is an inter-governmental organisation formed in 1924. It currently has 172 member countries.
Its objectives are to:
- ensure transparency in the global animal disease situation
- collect, analyse and disseminate veterinary scientific information
- provide expertise and encourage international solidarity in the control of animal diseases
- safeguard world trade by publishing health standards for international trade in animals and animal products, within its mandate under the World Trade Organization Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
- improve the legal framework and resources of national Veterinary Services, and
- provide a better guarantee of the safety of food of animal origin and to promote animal welfare through a science-based approach.
Australia’s Objectives
Australia is a strong contributor to OIE processes to protect our animal (including aquatic animal) health status and substantial trade in animals and animal products.
Australia has a good record in influencing OIE standards so they are science-based and achieve their purpose without imposing an unjustified burden on Australian producers.
It achieves this influence through the OIE’s annual General Session and by participating in specialist commissions, ad hoc groups and working groups. Australia also participates regularly in other OIE activities and discharges its responsibilities as an OIE member country through regular disease reporting, by commenting on draft standards, and by completing OIE questionnaires.
The Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer (OCVO) coordinates Australia’s OIE work and draws on the expertise of other Australian government departments and agencies, industry bodies and other experts on the issues under consideration.
Australia’s OIE Representatives
Dr Gardner Murray is Australia’s Delegate to the OIE and President of the OIE Regional Commission for Asia, the Far East and Oceania. He is also the President of the OIE Sub-Commission for the South East Asian Foot and Mouth Disease Campaign (SEAFMD) for controlling and eradicating FMD in participant countries using a regional approach.
Senior officers in the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry hold important OIE posts:
Dr Eva-Maria Bernoth, Manager of the Aquatic Animal Health Section of the OCVO, is President of the OIE Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission.
Dr Chris Bunn, Manager of the OCVO’s Disease Preparedness and International section, is a member of the OIE Working Group on Wildlife Diseases.