The OIE role in control of List A and emerging diseases.

The OIE is the international standard-setting organization for animal health and zoonoses. It addresses the control and prevention of important and emerging diseases primarily by collecting and disseminating relevant animal health information worldwide, and by adopting and publishing sanitary standards and recommendations for animals and animal products. The OIE’s Information System is aimed at promoting a transparent knowledge of the global animal disease situation, crucial for safe trade decision making. It operates an early warning system which is based on official reports fro Member countries, and complemented by an active search and verification of unofficial information. The system requires notifications, and provides reports in several degrees of urgency, determined by the nature of the disease agent and the epidemiological characteristics of the outbreak. For the purpose of harmonization of international trade measures, and in order to prevent discriminatory actions by importing countries, the WTO-SPS requires countries to base their import decisions on science-based international standards.