OIE standard-setting procedures- Focus on the Terrestrial & Aquatic Codes
SPS workshop Geneva 17 October 2011
Dr Sarah KahnHead International Trade Dept.
OIE standard setting procedure
Transparent
Democratic
Well-established
Science based
Rapid & responsive Member participation
International
collaboration
Standard- Standard- setting: the setting: the OIE CodesOIE Codes
Topic
SpecialistCommissions
Scientific review
Advice of experts or other Advice of experts or other Specialist CommissionsSpecialist Commissions
Draft text
ASSEMBLY
DELEGATES
Adoption
DelegatesCommissions
Experts
12
OIE INTERNATIONALSTANDARD
World Assembly:
National Delegates 178 Members
Comments
• DG convenes independent experts to draft texts
– many are drawn from Reference Centres
– attention to geographic balance.
• Examination of draft texts by Specialist Commissions and
Working Groups, as appropriate
• Two-year cycle / 4 occasions for Member comments
• Formal adoption of standards by the World Assembly, usually
based on consensus (or 2/3 majority).
Well established process
• Standards are based on and regularly updated with latest scientific
information
• Collaboration between Code Commissions (Terrestrial and Aquatic)
and other Specialist Commissions
• Network of OIE 265 Reference Centres
• Expert groups - internationally recognised experts, geographic
balance
• .
Science-based
• All standards adopted through the established formal process
• Member comments are addressed by Specialist Commissions
and the decisions and rationale are published in Commission
reports (on the OIE website).
• Two-year cycle - 4 occasions for Member comments
• Work plans of Commissions published and adopted annually
• Opportunity for debate at General Session (report reviewed at
meeting and adopted within one month after the GS).
Transparency
• Routine cycle: 2 years
– more rapid in an urgent situation, to protect health.
• Standards are regularly updated, based on relevant new
scientific information
• Commissions meet twice per year (total of 4 weeks for
Terrestrial Code), to review Member comments and
revise/finalise texts
• Expert meetings on ‘ad hoc’ basis
Rapid and responsive
• Official agreements with FAO and WHO, and with
more than 60 other international organisations
• Coordination within the ‘3 sisters’ – participation in
meetings, sharing reports etc.
• Through the Animal Production Food Safety Working
Group, collaboration at strategic level with Codex
– proposal for joint standards development in future.
International collaboration
• Delegates are the most frequently source of requests
for the development or revision of standards
• Delegates/the World Assembly elect Commission
Members and adopt the reports of the Specialist
Commissions, including their work programs
• Delegates are asked to endorse the DG’s proposals on
membership of permanent working groups.
Member Country participation
• The National Delegate as a Member of the World Assembly of
Delegates is centrally involved in
– adoption of standards (by consensus or vote)
– nominating experts, Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres,
(which are frequent participants in expert groups)
• The OIE recommends nomination of 7 Focal points to help
Delegates to meet the OIE obligations
– the OIE provides seminars (at least one per region each 2 years) to the
nominated focal points – and to new Delegates.
Member Country participation
All Members have the same opportunity to participate
in the development and adoption of standards:
‘One Member, One Vote’For further information:
http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Internationa_Standard_Setting/docs/pdf/A_OIE_procedures_stand___recom_2011.pdf
Democratic
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