OIE updates guidelines on BSE and Foot and Mouth
New global intergovernmental standards and guidelines on BSE and Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) have been announced following the 83rd General Session of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Nearly 900 participants, representing national delegates from among the 180 Member Countries of the OIE and around 40 international, intergovernmental, regional and national organisations took part in the Paris-based event, along with many eminent scientists.
An important update of the chapter on foot and mouth disease was approved, the fruit of several years’ work by the OIE’s Scientific Commission and Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission. The provisions are designed to limit restrictions on international trade while maintaining its safety, by placing greater importance on zoning and compartmentalisation procedures.
A specific provision relating to atypical forms of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was adopted. It is designed to minimise the impact of their detection on the official status of the countries concerned, the detection and reporting of atypical cases simply reflecting highly effective surveillance systems.
In the case of FMD, South America has now almost completely achieved the eradication of the disease, and, for the first time, a country of Eastern Europe, Kazakhstan, has achieved an officially recognised FMD status for a part of its territory.
After three consecutive five-year terms of office and fifteen years at the Directorate General of the OIE, Dr Bernard Vallat will pass the baton to Dr Monique Eloit, currently Deputy Director General, from 1 January 2016, for the coming five-year term. She will be the first woman to lead the OIE.
