OIE’s Contribution to Global Animal Health Standards

When you buy imported chicken, fish, or dairy products, you likely don’t think about the complex international standards that helped ensure those foods are safe for your family. Behind the scenes, an organization called the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)-formerly known as OIE-has been quietly shaping how countries manage animal diseases, protect public health, and facilitate billions of dollars in global trade for over a century.

What is the World Organisation for Animal Health? 🔗

WOAH is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1924, originally named the Office International des Epizooties (OIE). The organization was established in Paris, France, following an outbreak of rinderpest-one of the deadliest cattle diseases in history-that appeared in Belgium through shipment of infected cattle from India. This incident demonstrated that animal diseases required coordinated global action, not just national responses.

Today, WOAH has grown to include 183 member countries, each represented by a delegate who typically serves as the Chief Veterinary Officer of their nation. The organization operates independently from the United Nations system with its own constitutional texts and financial autonomy, though it works closely with UN agencies on shared health priorities.

Core standards that protect animal and human health 🔗

WOAH develops and maintains four primary international standards documents that serve as reference materials for veterinary authorities worldwide. These standards are built on the latest scientific evidence and receive continuous review by subject matter experts from around the globe.

The Terrestrial Animal Health Code 🔗

First published in 1968, the Terrestrial Code provides standards for improving health and welfare of mammals, birds, reptiles, and bees. Veterinary Services use these standards to establish measures for early detection, reporting, and control of pathogenic agents-including those that can infect humans. Countries that implement these recommendations protect both animal welfare and ensure safer international trade in animals and animal products.

The Aquatic Animal Health Code 🔗

Introduced in 1995, the Aquatic Code addresses health standards for amphibians, crustaceans, fish, and molluscs. Aquatic Animal Health Services rely on these guidelines to prevent, detect, report, and control pathogenic agents in aquatic species. Given the growth of aquaculture and seafood trade, these standards have become increasingly important for global food security.

Diagnostic and vaccine manuals 🔗

Accompanying these codes are detailed technical manuals. The Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals provides standardized approaches to disease diagnosis and requirements for vaccine production. Similarly, the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals describes diagnostic methods for diseases affecting aquatic species. These manuals ensure laboratories worldwide use consistent, validated methods.

Global disease surveillance through WAHIS 🔗

Transparency about disease outbreaks is essential for preventing pandemics and protecting trade. WOAH operates the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS), a web-based platform where member countries report disease events in real time. This system processes data on animal diseases and makes it immediately available to the international community.

Member countries must report all notifiable terrestrial and aquatic animal diseases detected within their territories. When an exceptional disease event occurs, countries submit immediate notifications that WOAH verifies, translates into English, French, and Spanish, and publishes as alerts. Subscribers to the WAHIS Distribution List-including veterinary authorities, international organizations, and research institutions-receive these alerts instantly.

The system enables countries and trade partners to implement preventive measures when disease threats emerge. As WOAH notes, experts estimate that around 20% of production losses worldwide result from animal diseases. Early detection through WAHIS helps minimize these losses while protecting food supply chains.

Facilitating safe international trade 🔗

WOAH plays a central role in international trade policy. The World Trade Organization (WTO) recognizes WOAH as the reference organization for standards relating to animal health and zoonoses. Under the WTO’s Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement), countries that apply WOAH standards are considered to meet their international trade obligations.

This recognition makes WOAH the technical authority for disputes related to trade in live animals and their products. The Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Codes provide the scientific basis for this authority, helping countries establish regulations for importing and exporting animals and animal products without spreading diseases across borders.

WOAH also participates in the Standards and Trade Development Facility, a joint initiative with WTO, World Bank, FAO, WHO, and other partners. This global partnership helps developing countries improve food safety and animal health capacity, contributing to economic growth, poverty reduction, and food security.

Controlling zoonoses through One Health collaboration 🔗

Zoonotic diseases-those that transmit between animals and humans-represent a significant global health challenge. According to the World Health Organization, diseases like flu, rabies, Rift Valley fever, and potentially COVID-19 demonstrate how animal and human health are deeply interconnected. WOAH champions the “One Health” approach, recognizing that effective disease prevention requires coordination between human health, animal health, and environmental sectors.

WOAH works as part of the Quadripartite-a collaboration with WHO, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Together, these organizations published guidance titled “Taking a Multisectoral, One Health Approach: A Tripartite Guide to Addressing Zoonotic Diseases in Countries.” This guide provides principles and best practices for preventing and responding to zoonotic threats.

The Quadripartite also formed the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) in 2021 to advise on emerging disease threats and develop long-term action plans. This panel investigates how human activities-including food production, urbanization, climate change, and wildlife trade-create opportunities for pathogens to evolve and spread.

Strengthening food safety from farm to fork 🔗

According to WOAH’s food safety initiative, approximately 600 million people-nearly 1 in 10 globally-fall ill each year from contaminated food, with over 400,000 deaths annually from foodborne diseases. Bacteria like Salmonella, Campylobacter, and E. coli remain among the most common foodborne pathogens.

Food contamination can occur at any point from production to consumption, making integrated approaches essential. WOAH standards address risks throughout the food production chain, from farm-level practices through transport, processing, storage, and distribution. Veterinarians trained in both animal health and veterinary public health conduct inspections on farms and in slaughterhouses, verifying animal health and product wholesomeness.

WOAH collaborates closely with the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which sets international food safety standards referenced by WTO. This relationship ensures that risk management addresses hazards at appropriate stages, whether at the farm level or later in the food production continuum.

Building veterinary service capacity worldwide 🔗

Strong national veterinary services are fundamental to implementing international standards effectively. WOAH developed the Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) Pathway, a capacity-building program that helps countries understand their strengths and weaknesses using globally consistent methodology.

Through the PVS Pathway, WOAH provides external evaluation and support to help countries prioritize improvements to their animal health systems. The program includes IHR/PVS National Bridging Workshops conducted jointly with WHO, improving collaboration between public health and animal health sectors at the national level.

This capacity building extends to wildlife health as well. WOAH’s Working Group on Wildlife has prepared recommendations on surveillance and control of wildlife diseases since 1994. A network of Focal Points for Wildlife receives professional training every two years, helping countries monitor diseases in wild animal populations that could threaten both livestock and humans.

Why WOAH standards matter for everyone 🔗

The work of WOAH affects daily life in ways most people never notice. When countries follow these international standards, they protect their livestock industries from devastating outbreaks, ensure safer food reaches consumers, and prevent diseases from spreading across borders during international trade. The economic stakes are enormous-animal diseases can disrupt entire food supply chains and threaten the livelihoods of farmers worldwide.

Perhaps most importantly, WOAH’s focus on zoonotic diseases and One Health collaboration helps prevent the next pandemic. The COVID-19 experience demonstrated the consequences when animal diseases spill over into human populations. By strengthening disease surveillance, improving veterinary services, and fostering international cooperation, WOAH contributes to a healthier, more secure world for both animals and people.

What do you think? How might stronger global coordination on animal health have changed our response to recent disease outbreaks? As international trade continues to expand, what challenges do you see in maintaining consistent animal health standards across different countries and regulatory systems?

References

1. https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/standards/
2. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/nvap/reference-guide/emergency-management/woah
3. https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/animal-health-and-welfare/disease-data-collection/world-animal-health-information-system/
4. https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/coher_e/wto_oie_e.htm
5. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/one-health
6. https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/global-initiatives/food-safety/