IVSA Journals Issue 2 (2015/2016) | Page 8

8 Do you know the World Organisation for Animal Health? The OIE is an intergovernmental organisation with a given mandate to improve animal health and welfare worldwide. For the past 90 years, the Organisation has worked to achieve transparency in the world animal disease situation, including diseases transmissible to humans, to update and publish disease prevention and control methods to strengthen Veterinary Services worldwide and to ensure the sanitary safety of world trade in animals and animal products and the safety of food of animal origin during the primary production stage. These actions are implemented through the adoption of intergovernmental standards, recognised as reference standards by the World Trade Organization (WTO). The OIE, a worldwide presence Located in all regions of the world DISCOVER OIE’s CORE MISSIONS The OIE’s international standards on animal health and welfare are prepared and updated by recognised scientific experts and are democratically adopted at annual General Sessions of the World Assembly of Delegates of the OIE. Each national Delegate of the 180 Member Countries is entitled to one vote. Recognised as reference by the World Trade Organization (WTO), these standards are designed to prevent and control animal diseases, including zoonoses, ensure the sanitary safety of world trade in terrestrial and aquatic animals and animal products, and improve animal welfare. OIE intergovernmental standards are published in two Codes and two Manuals.