World Organisation for Animal Health

The World Organisation for Animal Health is the intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health worldwide and was created by an international agreement as the International Office of Epizootics (still known by its French acronym Office International des Epizooties - OIE) on 25 January 1924. It is recognised as a reference organisation by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and, in 2011, has a total of 178 member Countries and Territories.^[1] The OIE maintains permanent relations with 35 other international and regional organisations. Its headquarters are in Paris, France.

History

The organization was created following the rinderpest epizootic in Belgium in 1920. The disease had originated in India and concern over the spread led to an international conference in Paris in March 1921. An agreement was signed on January 25, 1924 by 28 countries.

World Animal Health Information Database (WAHID) Interface

Timely dissemination of information is crucial to containing outbreaks. The WAHID Interface provides access to all data held within OIE's new World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS). It replaces and significantly extends the former web interface named Handistatus II System.

A comprehensive range of information is available from:

• Immediate notifications and follow-up reports submitted by Member Countries in response to exceptional disease events occurring in these countries as well as follow-up reports about these events,
• Six-monthly reports describing the OIE-listed disease situations in each country
• Annual reports providing further background information on animal health, on laboratory and vaccine production facilities.

References

External links

• OIE official website
• OIE Mission Statement
• Page on animal welfare
• Page on Food Safety