The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)

The need to fight animal diseases at global level led to the creation of the Office International
des Epizooties through the international Agreement signed on January 25th 1924. In May 2003
the Office became the World Organisation for Animal Health but kept its historical acronym OIE.
The OIE is the intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health
worldwide.
It is recognised as a reference organisation by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in
2017 has a total of 181 Member Countries. The OIE maintains permanent relations with 71
other international and regional organisations and has Regional and sub-regional Offices on
every continent.
How does the organisation function?
The organisation is placed under the authority and control of a World Assembly of
Delegates consisting of Delegates designated by the Governments of all Member Countries.

The day-to-day operation of the OIE is managed at the Headquarterssituated in Paris and
placed under the responsibility of a Director Generalelected by the World Assembly of
Delegates. The Headquarters implements the resolutions passed by the International
Committee and developed with the support of Commissions elected by the Delegates:
How does the organisation function?
The organisation is placed under the authority and control of a World Assembly of
Delegates consisting of Delegates designated by the Governments of all Member Countries.

The day-to-day operation of the OIE is managed at the Headquarterssituated in Paris and
placed under the responsibility of a Director Generalelected by the World Assembly of
Delegates. The Headquarters implements the resolutions passed by the International
Committee and developed with the support of Commissions elected by the Delegates:
Council
Regional Commissions (5)
Specialist Technical Commissions (4)
The OIE's financial resources are derived principally from compulsory annual contributions
backed up by voluntary contributions from Member Countries.
The Council

The Council is composed of the President of the World Assembly of Delegates, the Vice-
President, the Past President and six Delegates representing all the regions, all elected (with
the exception of the former President) for a three-year term. The Council represents the
Assembly during the interval between General Sessions.
The Council meets at least twice a year in Paris to examine technical and administrative
matters and, in particular, the working programme and the proposed budget to be presented to
the Assembly
The OIE has set up five Regional Commissions to express specific problems facing its Members
in the different regions of the world. These Commissions can be seen as fully fledged regional
institutional bodies.
These Commissions cover the following regions:
Africa
Americas
Asia, Far East and Oceania
Europe
Middle East
Each Regional Commission organises a Conference every two years in one of the countries of
the region. These Conferences are devoted to technical items and to regional cooperation in the
control of animal diseases.
Regional programmes may be developed to reinforce surveillance and control of major animal
diseases, especially for regions where the OIE maintains a Regional or Sub-Regional
Representation. The Regional Commissions work closely with these Representations.
Regional Commissions report on their activities and submit recommendations to the World
Assembly of Delegates.
In May 2015, elections for the Bureaux (President, Vice-Presidents and Secretary General) of
the Regional Commissions were held for a three-year term of office. The current composition of
the Bureaux is as follows:
Specialist Commissions

The role of the OIE's Specialist Commissions is to use current scientific information to study
problems of epidemiology and the prevention and control of animal diseases, to develop and
revise OIE's international standards and to address scientific and technical issues raised by
Members.
The OIE is continuing to improve the transparency of its standards development process, in
order to have the best scientific basis for its standards and to gain their widest possible support.
All reports from OIE Specialist Commissions are published on the OIE public website and
incorporate as appendices the accepted reports from relevant OIE Working Groups and ad
hoc Groups. The OIE does not solicit comments on these reports other than from Delegates,
but will not refuse comments from organisations with an interest in the OIE's work, as they often
represent a very useful source of information. For more details, read the "Transparency in the
OIE standards development process" paper.
The Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission ("Terrestrial Code Commission")
Code Commission & Reports
Founded in 1960, the Terrestrial Code Commission is responsible for ensuring that the
recommendations of theTerrestrial Animal Health Code (the Terrestrial Code) reflect current
scientific information on the protection of international trade and surveillance methods for animal
diseases and zoonoses. It works with internationally renowned specialists to prepare draft texts
for new articles for the Terrestrial Code and to revise existing articles in light of advances in
veterinary science. As well, the Terrestrial Code Commission collaborates closely with the
Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission on issues needing a harmonised approach, and
with the Biological Standards Commission and the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases
to ensure the Terrestrial Code Commission is utilising the latest scientific information in its work.
The views of the Delegates of Member Countries and Territories are routinely sought through
the circulation of draft and revised texts and, at each General Session, the Delegates discuss
and formally adopt the draft texts as OIE standards. These texts are then incorporated into the
next edition of the Terrestrial Code.
Members of the Commission are elected by the World Assembly of Delegates of the OIE for a
3-year term.
The Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases ("Scientific Commission")
Scientific Commission & Reports
Founded in 1946, this Commission assists in identifying the most appropriate strategies and
measures for disease prevention and control. It also examines Member Country submissions
regarding their animal health status for those countries that wish to be included on the OIE list
of countries 'free' of certain diseases (see OIE 'Disease-free' statusand 'Disease-free'
recognition procedures). The Commission is elected by the World Assembly of Delegates of the
OIE for a 3-year term.
The Biological Standards Commission ("Laboratories Commission")
Laboratories Commission & Reports
 Founded in 1949, this Commission is responsible for establishing or approving methods for
diagnosing diseases of mammals, birds and bees and for recommending the most effective
biological products such as vaccines. It oversees the production of the Manual of Diagnostic
Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals (the" Terrestrial Manual"), recognised as an
international standard text by the SPS Agreement of the WTO. The Commission also selects
OIE Reference Laboratories for disease of terrestrial animals, and promotes the preparation
and distribution of standard reagents for diagnostic testing. The Commission is elected by the
World Assembly of Delegates of the OIE for a 3-year term.
Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission (Aquatic Animals Commission)
Aquatic Animals Commission and reports
Founded in 1960, this Commission compiles information on diseases of amphibians,
crustaceans, fish and molluscs and on methods used to control these diseases. The
Commission produces the Aquatic Animal Health Code (the "Aquatic Code") and the Manual of
Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (the "Aquatic Manual"). The Commission also organises
scientific meetings on diverse topics of importance to aquaculture. The Commission is elected
by the World Assembly of Delegates of the OIE for a 3-year term.
Biography

Dr Monique Eloit was elected Director General of the World Organisation for Animal
Health (OIE) on 26 May 2015 by the World Assembly, which brings together the national
Delegates of all OIE Member Countries. She began her five-year term of office on 1
January 2016, as the 7th Director General of the OIE, after having served as Deputy
Director General of the OIE for six years.
OIE Regional Commissions

The OIE has set up five Regional Commissions to express specific problems facing its Members
in the different regions of the world. These Commissions can be seen as fully fledged regional
institutional bodies.
These Commissions cover the following regions:
Africa
Americas
Asia, Far East and Oceania
Europe
Middle East

Each Regional Commission organises a Conference every two years in one of the countries of
the region. These Conferences are devoted to technical items and to regional cooperation in the
control of animal diseases.
Regional programmes may be developed to reinforce surveillance and control of major animal
diseases, especially for regions where the OIE maintains a Regional or Sub-Regional
Representation. The Regional Commissions work closely with these Representations.
Regional Commissions report on their activities and submit recommendations to the World
Assembly of Delegates.
In May 2015, elections for the Bureaux (President, Vice-Presidents and Secretary General) of
the Regional Commissions were held for a three-year term of office. The current composition of
the Bureaux is as follows:
The Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission ("Terrestrial Code Commission")
Code Commission & Reports
Founded in 1960, the Terrestrial Code Commission is responsible for ensuring that the
recommendations of theTerrestrial Animal Health Code (the Terrestrial Code) reflect current
scientific information on the protection of international trade and surveillance methods for animal
diseases and zoonoses. It works with internationally renowned specialists to prepare draft texts
for new articles for the Terrestrial Code and to revise existing articles in light of advances in
veterinary science. As well, the Terrestrial Code Commission collaborates closely with the
Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission on issues needing a harmonised approach, and
with the Biological Standards Commission and the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases
to ensure the Terrestrial Code Commission is utilising the latest scientific information in its work.
The views of the Delegates of Member Countries and Territories are routinely sought through
the circulation of draft and revised texts and, at each General Session, the Delegates discuss
and formally adopt the draft texts as OIE standards. These texts are then incorporated into the
next edition of the Terrestrial Code.
Members of the Commission are elected by the World Assembly of Delegates of the OIE for a
3-year term.
The Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases ("Scientific Commission")
Scientific Commission & Reports
Founded in 1946, this Commission assists in identifying the most appropriate strategies and
measures for disease prevention and control. It also examines Member Country submissions
regarding their animal health status for those countries that wish to be included on the OIE list
of countries 'free' of certain diseases (see OIE 'Disease-free' statusand 'Disease-free'
recognition procedures). The Commission is elected by the World Assembly of Delegates of the
OIE for a 3-year term.
The Biological Standards Commission ("Laboratories Commission")
Laboratories Commission & Reports
Founded in 1949, this Commission is responsible for establishing or approving methods for
diagnosing diseases of mammals, birds and bees and for recommending the most effective
biological products such as vaccines. It oversees the production of the Manual of Diagnostic
Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals (the" Terrestrial Manual"), recognised as an
international standard text by the SPS Agreement of the WTO. The Commission also selects
OIE Reference Laboratories for disease of terrestrial animals, and promotes the preparation
and distribution of standard reagents for diagnostic testing. The Commission is elected by the
World Assembly of Delegates of the OIE for a 3-year term.
Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission (Aquatic Animals Commission)
Aquatic Animals Commission and reports
Founded in 1960, this Commission compiles information on diseases of amphibians,
crustaceans, fish and molluscs and on methods used to control these diseases. The
Commission produces the Aquatic Animal Health Code (the "Aquatic Code") and the Manual of
Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (the "Aquatic Manual"). The Commission also organises
scientific meetings on diverse topics of importance to aquaculture. The Commission is elected
by the World Assembly of Delegates of the OIE for a 3-year term.