The world has never consumed more aquatic animal protein than today. Fisheries and aquaculture production reached a record 223.2 million tonnes in 20221, largely due to the growth of aquaculture, particularly in Asia. It is estimated that about 600 million livelihoods depend on fisheries and aquaculture, including primary workers, their families, and the entire economies supported by them. Aquatic animal production is one of the main levers for livelihoods and food security around the globe and is expected to keep growing. A 14% growth is forecast by 2030.   

The “seafood revolution”: assessing the importance of aquatic animal health  

Aquaculture will be largely responsible for this increase. It is estimated that the global seafood supply will rise from 154 million tonnes in 2011 to 186 million tonnes in 2030–an increase solely based on aquaculture. Moreover, food production systems and the way they evolve play a crucial role in addressing climate change.

In 2019, the EAT Lancet Commission recommended a shift toward plant-based diets, with a reduction in beef, poultry, pork and eggs, but an increase in seafood consumption. The aquatic animal sector has a crucial role to play in facing one of the world’s most pressing global challenges

For aquaculture to meet this demand without increasing its environmental impact or posing health risks, there is a need for continual improvements in production systems, all along the chain. Notably, the coining of international regulations and standards, including ones on aquatic animal welfare, can drive this growth along an environmentally sound path. This is where WOAH’s work comes into play.  

214 million tonnes

were produced by fisheries and aquaculture in 2020.

about

600 million

livelihoods depend on fisheries and aquaculture. 14% is the expected growth of aquatic food production by 2030.

Creating international aquatic animal health standards 

WOAH’s Aquatic Code was published in 1995, providing a separate set of specific standards for aquatic animals, along with the Manual of Diagnostic Tests aimed at laboratories. These standards are based on the best available science and provide practical approaches to aquatic animal health management. 

In order to highlight the importance of implementing these recommendations, as well as to bring together stakeholders from the aquatic sector, the first WOAH Global Conference on Aquatic Animal Health was held in Bergen, Norway, in 2006. During the following conference five years later, the Panama Declaration stressed the need for global cooperation, improved disease reporting and better capacity-building to enforce implementation of standards. Global efforts culminated in 2019, at the 4th Global Conference on Aquatic Animal Health in Santiago, Chile, where National Director of Sernapesca and current president of WOAH’s Aquatic Animals Commission, Dr Alicia Gallardo Lagno, testified on the importance of regional collaboration: “In the past, a disease caused a loss of 73% of Chile’s fish production. Our national authority took measures in line with WOAH Standards. For us, it is important to share our experience on such situations with other countries, especially in America”. It was during this conference that WOAH Director General Monique Éloit made a commitment to develop an aquatic animal health strategy.  

Advancing a global strategy for aquatic animal health 

The Aquatic Animal Health Strategy was launched two years later during the 88th General Session. “It is the basis on which we will take action, in dialogue with our partners, to pursue our vision of improved aquatic animal health and welfare worldwide,” explained Dr Monique Éloit then. She also reflected on her past experience as Chief Veterinary Officer in her country, when she realised she did not have the technical knowledge or trained staff to deal with a surge of oyster spat disease. WOAH’s Aquatic Animal Health Strategy was designed to remedy such situations, with four objectives:  

  • The development and update of scientifically sound standards to manage risks, facilitate safe trade and improve aquatic animal health and welfare. 
  • Capacity-building programmes to strengthen Aquatic Animal Health Services.  
  • Procedures, guidelines and coordinated support to improve the global response to emerging diseases
  • Leadership on animal health and welfare, to develop international partnerships and engage scientific and policy networks. 

Like every major project at WOAH’s, the Aquatic Animal Health Strategy was developed in close collaboration with Members, and Aquatic Animal Health Services to ensure the necessary tools are available for countries to act, especially by developing their own national guidelines based on WOAH’s Standards.

Improving surveillance systems with the Aquatic Animal Health Strategy 

One of the goals underscored in the Aquatic Animal Health Strategy is to get Members more involved by making standards easier to understand. This has already proven helpful: WOAH Standards were updated to better support the setting up of surveillance systems, which help obtain information on the situation and occurrence of aquatic animal diseases. Following this update, countries were able to better understand and implement the requirements for self-declaration of freedom from an aquatic animal disease

The updated standards also enable better compliance with WOAH’s Aquatic Code, especially with disease reporting, early detection and rapid response–all crucial elements when it comes to mitigating the spread of diseases worldwide. 


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“Animal health is our health, it’s everyone’s health” is not just a slogan. It is a scientific reality, long acknowledged by professors of medicine as far back as the 17th and 18th century: animal and human health are interconnected. Zoonoses such as rabies or avian influenza have been a long-time concern for human health, as well as economic and social stability.  

By the end of the 20th century, Lyme disease, Ebola, Mad Cow disease, among others, were major issues that triggered international action. Ebola and other zoonotic diseases can be transmitted from humans to animals, such as great apes. This reverse transmission proves that the connection between animal and human health goes both ways. 

The term “One Health” reached the international stage in 2004 at a symposium organised by the Wildlife Conservation Society, following the 2002 SARS outbreak. Together, experts from around the world wrote the Manhattan Principles on One World, One Health, urging global leaders to “recognise the essential link between human, domestic animal and wildlife health and the threat disease poses to people, their food supplies and economies, and the biodiversity essential to maintaining the healthy environments and functioning ecosystems we all require.”

Bridging gaps between animal, human and environmental health

“In the following years, governments and scientists worldwide came to recognise that transdisciplinary collaboration was essential to prevent and control zoonoses, and that they should include physicians and veterinarians alongside wildlife specialists, environmentalists, anthropologists, economists and sociologists, among others”, recalls Dr Monique Éloit, outgoing Director General of WOAH.  

The concept became a true reference for international policy in October 2008 at the event of the H5N1 global outbreak, when six international organisations (the World Bank, WHO, FAO, UNICEF, WOAH and the UN System Influenza Coordination) convened at the International ministerial conference on avian and pandemic influenza at Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt). They released a joint “Strategic Framework for Reducing Risks of Infectious Diseases at the Animal-Human-Ecosystems Interface”, with a meaningful title: “Contributing to One World, One Health”, with direct reference to the Manhattan principles.  

A visual concept of the One Health approach

From rabies to antimicrobial resistance 

In 2010, FAO, WHO and WOAH published a “Tripartite concept note” known as the Hanoi declaration, where they presented their common vision for “a world capable of preventing, detecting, containing, eliminating, and responding to animal and public health risks attributable to zoonoses and animal diseases with an impact on food security through multi-sectoral cooperation and strong partnerships”. They decided to start by focusing on three areas of work: antimicrobial resistance, avian influenza and rabies.  

In 2017, the updated Tripartite strategy presented enlarged priorities, covering the reinforcement of national health services, the modernisation of early warning and surveillance systems, and the promotion of coordinated research. In 2018, a new Memorandum of Understanding strengthened the partnership on antimicrobial resistance.  

Rabies control: a model for One Health collaboration 

Rabies still kills around 59 000 people every year. Since 99% of the human cases originate from dog bites and scratches, the disease needs to be tackled at its animal source, by implementing large scale dog vaccination and raising awareness. It also needs action from the human health sector, to ensure access to medical care and post-bite treatment, especially in rural areas. 

FAO, WHO, WOAH and the Global Alliance for rabies control are working together toward a common goal: “Zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.” Building a coordinated approach for rabies serves as a model for many other diseases, and offers an opportunity to strengthen health systems worldwide.  

Broadening the scope to environmental drivers  

Although the One Health concept originated in the animal health sector, it had gradually developed as a public health and environment sector policy approach. “The context changed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, at the Paris Peace Forum in late 2020, where world leaders called for the full integration of the environment sector in One Health, specifically calling for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to join the Tripartite”, recalls Ing Andersen, UNEP Executive Director, in April 2024.  “We immediately began to work together on key initiatives, and in March 2022, the collaboration was formalised through the establishment of the Quadripartite. This has led to a stronger focus on upstream prevention and to a push to broaden the scope beyond zoonotic disease and antimicrobial resistance to include the environmental drivers of health risks and the health of the environment and ecosystems.” 

The world was slowly coming out of the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and still facing monkeypox, Ebola outbreaks, and continued challenges linked to food safety, antimicrobial resistance, ecosystem degradation and climate change. One Health appeared, more than ever, as the main approach for tackling these pressing and complex challenges. The Quadripartite presented a Joint plan of action with six action tracks inclusive of the environment, comprising the strengthening of health systems, controlling zoonotic epidemics and pandemics, food safety, and curbing antimicrobial resistance.  

WOAH takes the lead on cross-sectoral collaboration 

“Moving forward, the objective is to effectively implement One Health activities and foster positive outcomes at the country level”, said WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, when asked to reminisce about the Quadripartite collaboration for One Health over the years. “One example of this is our work […] with the G20 Brazil Secretariat to inject fresh perspectives into the One Health approach within political forums, with a focus on the importance of governance and knowledge sharing.” 

In March 2024, WOAH set to chair the Quadripartite rotating Secretariat for the upcoming year, with a detailed agenda focused on implementation of the One Health Joint Plan of Action, monitoring and evaluation of  the Quadripartite work, global advocacy and leveraging investment for One Health, as well as learning and training coordination. The Organisation is also championing action against zoonotic diseases through a holistic approach. 

As it celebrates its 100th anniversary, WOAH reiterates its strong commitment to animal health: more than ever, our health.  


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The origins of WOAH date back to 1921, with a shipload of zebus travelling from India to Brazil. The zebus transited at the Belgian port of Antwerp, where they were quarantined with cattle from the United States, before being forwarded by rail to various European slaughterhouses. The zebus were infected with rinderpest, a deadly disease that quickly spread through the other imported cattle, all over Europe. The disease was already well-known in this region and others, where it had killed millions of cattle in the past, causing devastation in farms.  

This situation was mitigated by quick action from national veterinary services, but it confirmed the need for international cooperation on disease prevention procedures. At the 1921 Paris Conference, 43 countries and territories decided to establish an Office International des Epizooties. The OIE [former acronym of WOAH] was born on 25 January 1924. 

1968: the first Code to regulate trade of animals and their products  

In 1960, the Organisation launched the International Veterinary Quarantine Operation to progressively harmonise international exchanges of animals and animal commodities. After years of unprecedented efforts to facilitate standardisation, including multiple worldwide conferences, the International Zoosanitary Code was published in 1968, providing the regulatory basis for safe international trade of terrestrial and aquatic animals and animal commodities.  

A science-based and democratic approach 

Nowadays, this first Code has evolved. It is now a fully developed system organised in four sets of publications, which provide international standards to monitor, detect and control more than 120 animal diseases, to improve animal welfare, veterinary public health and to strengthen Veterinary Services worldwide:  

  • The Terrestrial Code, first published in 1968 under the name of International Zoosanitary Code, provides standards for the prevention, early detection, reporting and control of pathogens in terrestrial animals.  
  • The Aquatic Code, introduced in 1995 to extend standards on disease prevention, early detection, reporting and control to amphibians, crustaceans, fish and molluscs. 

The development of WOAH Standards relies on the dedicated and comprehensive work of specialised committees and groups, based on scientific rigor and consensus among Members, following transparent and democratic adoption procedures.

Carlos Henrique Baqueta Fávaro, Brazilian Minister for Agriculture and Livestock.

Indeed, to remain relevant with the latest scientific and technological developments as well as with feedback from their implementation, WOAH Codes and Manuals are being regularly updated through a science-based and consultative process: revisions proposed to address countries’ needs are developed by experts, discussed with Members and key stakeholders, and finally adopted each year by the World Assembly of Delegates, where each Member has one vote. 

A reference for the World Trade Organization  

When Members vote for the adoption of Standards at WOAH’s annual General Session, they commit to translating them into their national legislation. The World Trade Organization (WTO) adopted the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures (SPS) in 1995, which encourages its members to base their sanitary measures relating to animal health and zoonoses on WOAH Standards.  

WOAH Standards, widely recognised and adopted by WTO Members, provide a robust foundation for harmonising regulations and ensuring the safety of international trade in animal products. By ensuring compliance with WOAH Standards, nations can effectively address trade concerns, harmonise regulations, and promote smoother trade flows while upholding high standards of animal health and safety.

Jean-Marie Paugam, WTO Deputy Director General.  

For Brazilian Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Carlos Henrique Baqueta Fávaro, “WOAH Standards, recognised by the WTO as a reference in animal health and zoonoses, bring security, impartiality, and equity to international trade of animals and their products, avoiding unnecessary trade barriers.” 

WOAH has indeed become WTO’s reference organisation, reflecting the importance of health measures to facilitate safe international trade of animals and their products. This collaboration between international organisations and Members goes beyond trade: for example, “as a founding partner of the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), alongside FAO, WHO, the World Bank, and WTO, WOAH actively contributes to assisting developing nations in meeting international sanitary and phytosanitary standards and requirements. Concrete examples include initiatives in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and the Philippines to control the spread of African swine fever, projects in Mongolia to improve animal identification systems, and in Ethiopia to enhance SPS compliance for meat exports”, Jean-Marie Paugam added.  

Standards Animal Health_A male animal health inspector checking for signs of animal diseases in a slaughterhouse
Applying sanitary measures, an inspector checks carcasses for signs of disease in a slaughterhouse. Following WOAH Standards and recommendations on slaughter and trade is key to preventing the spread of diseases and ensuring food safety.  Photo: © WOAH/Amir Hossein Fadaee

An Observatory to monitor the implementation of standards 

WOAH acknowledges that while it is important to develop and publish international standards, these recommendations need to be effectively implemented at every international border, harbour, farm and anywhere veterinary services are being delivered in the world. In some countries, implementation can be challenged by many factors, including the lack of financial and human resources, or relevant infrastructure.  

In order to know where Members stand regarding the implementation of standards, WOAH Observatory was created to collect data and facts, and provide analyses. “WOAH Standards are the international reference in the areas of animal health, animal welfare and zoonoses. However, as with many international instruments, evidence on their actual uptake remains scarce. The Observatory is an ambitious project, largely unprecedented among international organisations, to bring transparency to the use of WOAH Standards”, said Marianna Karttunen, of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), that provided support and recommendations in the development of the Observatory.  

Following a testing phase, the WOAH Observatory published its first results in 2022. The programme is expected to reach full speed in 2025. Data is provided by Members and collected from external sources, then analysed to identify implementation gaps and provide recommendations to Members, while guiding WOAH capacity building activities and standard-setting process.  

“Other international organisations will be able to learn much from WOAH’s experience in setting up the Observatory. WOAH’s active participation in the Partnership of International Organisations for Effective International Rulemaking is therefore timely and very welcome”, Marianna Karttunen added.  

The Observatory is at the core of WOAH’s current digital transformation, in line with the principles of thoroughness, international cooperation and transparency that keep international standards still fully relevant today.  


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Monique Eloit at the WOAH headquarters
Dr Monique Éloit, former Director General

Editorial piece by Dr Monique Éloit, former Director General, WOAH

In 1924, recognising the threat of animal diseases spreading through trade, the World Organisation for Animal Health was founded. A century on, we have significantly evolved the global animal health agenda, standing by the veterinary workforce worldwide.  

WOAH is now a significant and influential player in high-level meetings and forums alongside peers in the sectors of human health, food and agriculture, as well as the environment. As we look into the future, our focus will remain on three key objectives: ensuring that Veterinary Services are duly acknowledged for their critical role, advocating for sustainable practices, and championing animal health and welfare for a safer world. 

100 years of caring for the human-animal relationship 

human-animal relationship_vet doctor examining a gorilla in Rwanda
A doctor specialised in gorillas from the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project frees the orphaned infant ‘Djingala’ from the box where she was held captive by poachers. Preserving endangered wildlife is vital for all. Photo: © EC-WOAH

Understanding the importance of animal health is crucial for humans because our societies are deeply intertwined with the existence of animals. It’s our duty to assume our role in ensuring their health and welfare; it’s not just an option but a fundamental obligation. The bond between people and animals has always existed, originating in a historic working and sustenance relationship. Today, animals are integral to human life in numerous ways, from farming of domesticated animals to keeping ecosystems in balance to sustain wildlife. A staggering 2.6 billion people rely on livestock, small-scale fishing, and aquaculture for their livelihoods and income. More recently, the positive impact of pets on our emotional and physical well-being has also been recognised. The breadth of our relationship with animals is vast and ever-growing. 

As an organisation, WOAH has evolved significantly, now encompassing many facets of the human-animal relationship, expanding its initial focus on trade-related issues. Alongside our partners, we are addressing today’s global challenges, including the rise of antimicrobial resistance, the impacts of climate change, and the protection of wildlife health. 

100 years of benefitting communities 

A veterinarian assists a cow birthing her calf
A veterinarian assists a cow birthing her calf. Veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals play an essential role in helping farms run smoothly.  Photo: © EC-WOAH

Every time actions are taken to preserve animal health, societies observe countless positive ripple effects. In a context where 60% of infectious diseases that affect people are of animal origin, preserving animal health is critical in safeguarding human health. Keeping animals healthy is crucial for guaranteeing access to safe food supplies, such as fish, meat, milk, and eggs, which in turn decreases poverty and hunger. With women making up 50 to 70% of the workforce in livestock and aquatic sector, better animal health contributes to gender equality by providing them with dependable income and better working conditions.  

Improving animal welfare improves animal health. Over time, WOAH has intensified its efforts to support animal welfare. By providing countries with detailed guidelines, we encourage farmers to adopt safer and more responsible practices. We support a worldwide transition to farming methods that are more environmentally friendly, aligning with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Enhanced animal welfare means healthier animals, which translates to higher productivity. Moreover, it helps cut down on greenhouse gases and farming-related pollution. Agriculture contributes 10-12% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with meat, poultry, and dairy production responsible for 75% of this amount. Recognising the significant role animal farming plays in emitting greenhouse gases and working towards reducing them through sustainable methods is vital for addressing climate change—one of humanity’s most significant challenges. 

100 years of championing animal health and welfare in global discussions 

human-animal relationship - a veterinarian taking care of animals
A veterinarian visits a village to offer his services. WOAH advocates for better recognition of the value of the veterinary workforce in global discussions. Photo: © EC-WOAH

When WOAH was created 100 years ago, its aim was to help mitigate the spread of diseases across borders, especially through trade. A rinderpest outbreak in Belgium sparked international concern, leading to the setting up of an information and reporting system for animal diseases.  

Globally, WOAH has been recognised early on as the leading standard-setting organisation for animal health and zoonoses by the World Trade Organization (WTO). From this point onwards, we have progressively gained influence as the advocacy voice of the veterinary workforce on critical global challenges. Through a One Health approach and our collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) within the Quadripartite partnership, we have consistently represented the animal health perspective on the international stage. At the G20, the United Nations General Assembly, the Paris Peace Forum or the G7, we have shown our commitment to playing a role in resolving multifaceted issues of our times. 

Tomorrow: responding to global challenges together

School children stand beside a donkey in the fog.
School children stand beside a donkey in the fog. Animals are often the silent victims of the global challenges that affect humans, from extreme weather events to economic crises. Photo: © EC-WOAH

Moving forward, we will continue to adapt, just as we have over the last century, by staying attuned to the evolving needs of our Members and societies, and by providing the most appropriate responses. Back in 1924, nations recognised the importance of uniting behind a shared mission: to stop the spread of diseases such as rinderpest. A century later, in 2024, the same level of collaboration and solidarity is essential to tackle the challenges of today. Whether it’s responding to extreme weather events, addressing the threat of antimicrobial resistance, or preparing for pandemics, these challenges demand a collective and multi-sectoral approach. As WOAH embarks on its second century, we are dedicated as ever to the global efforts for One Health, using our commitment to animal health and welfare as a foundation for creating a more sustainable future. 

Because animal health is our health.
It’s everyone’s health.  

Dr Monique Éloit
former Director General of WOAH.


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“Medicine cures man, veterinary medicine cures mankind”, as the saying goes. The work of Veterinary Services goes beyond the improvement of animal health: it has a social, economic, environmental and public health impact.

To help countries improve their Veterinary and Aquatic Animal Health Services, WOAH launched the PVS Pathway in 2007. By providing countries with an independent, expert evaluation of their Veterinary Services’ critical competencies, the programme allows for targeted, more efficient and measurable capacity-development.  

Since the creation of the PVS Pathway and as of March 2024: 

Nearly

600

PVS activities were conducted in more than 140 countries 

78%

of WOAH Members engaged in at least one PVS activity 

PVS Pathway: from field assessments to targeted support 

For each evaluation mission, WOAH-trained experts meet with various stakeholders in the country, ranging from ministers to farmers. They visit field sites and key facilities, such as laboratories, border posts and slaughterhouses. In their report, experts analyse each country’s unique challenges and advantages to support Veterinary Services’ continuous improvement. Based on the evidence collected, the experts provide recommendations to enable countries to take ownership, act and prioritise improvements of their animal health systems.

“The PVS recommendations are a fundamental tool in providing a formal diagnosis, with an objective and independent assessment, endorsed by WOAH, of the quality of Veterinary Services,” explains Mr. Esteban Valenzuela Van Treek, Minister of Agriculture of Chile. “This makes it possible to identify the gaps and shortcomings,” he adds. 

In 2017, to mark the 10-year anniversary of the programme, relevant stakeholders convened for a PVS Pathway Think Tank Forum, to set directions for the future and devise ways to keep the programme relevant and attractive. The evolved PVS Pathway was launched two years later, with activities structured in the four stages still used today: orientation, evaluation, planning and targeted support.  

To better respond to particular needs and to align with global control and eradication efforts led by WOAH and its partners, specific disease-oriented approaches were created on peste des petits ruminants, rabies, and African swine fever. For Mr. Esteban Valenzuela Van Treek, “the incorporation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the 45 critical competencies” in the PVS Evaluations is another “fundamental improvement”, as it “takes into account that one of the main One Health problems that humanity will have to deal with is AMR.” 

PVS programme_ process infographic
The four stages of the PVS Pathway

Providing countries with tools and resources for advocacy

As of 2024, nearly 600 PVS activities have been conducted. In particular, evaluation reports include an analysis of Veterinary Services’ performance against important issues, such as legal and regulatory matters as well as human, financial and physical resources, to ensure compliance with WOAH international Standards. These rich and actionable recommendations have turned PVS reports into a key reference tool for strategic investments.  

For Gilberto Correia Carvalho Silva, Minister of Agriculture and the Environment of Cape Verde, “the PVS evaluation enables us to mobilise financial resources to bring our national Veterinary Services in line with national, regional and international standards.” 

Abhijit Mitra, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, remembers well the PVS Evaluation of India’s Veterinary Services, conducted in 2018. “It helped us identify gaps and take some initiatives to strengthen our Veterinary Services”, he says. “Later, when we were formulating a Pandemic Fund project for support of the World Bank, it really helped us to determine our objectives, activities, and strategies to develop. When we submitted our project, we realised that the evaluation had really given us an edge over other applicants.

PVS Evaluations: A boost for agricultural exports  

PVS Evaluations are not only intended for developing countries. Okita Masatsugu, Director of Animal Health Division at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Japan, participated in Japan’s PVS Evaluation mission in 2016. “It was actually the first time we had a comprehensive evaluation of our Veterinary Services. We wanted to find the loopholes in our veterinary systems. And more importantly, we wanted to show our transparency and accountability to our trading partners. Now, thanks to this PVS Pathway initiative, we are enjoying a very good progress in the export of Japanese products, such as wagyu beef.” 

Internationally, PVS recommendations serve as valuable insights for development agencies, such as the World Bank, to tailor their lending operations and technical assistance programs. These recommendations inform decision-making processes regarding resource allocation and project design, ensuring that interventions are targeted and aligned with national priorities.

Renaud Seligmann, World Bank Director for Strategy and Operations of the Sustainable Development Practice Group. 

“Moreover, PVS reports facilitate dialogue and collaboration among countries, international organisations, and donors, fostering partnerships aimed at addressing common challenges in animal health and welfare”, adds Renaud Seligmann.

“Taking the reports off the shelf” with a new information system for PVS  

Over its 17 years of existence, the programme gathered a wealth of comparable data and insights on national Veterinary Services, over time and across countries. In May 2024, WOAH launched a new information system for PVS. “The idea is to take the reports off the shelf and to use them in a smarter way”, Barbara Alessandrini, Head of WOAH’s Capacity Building Department explained. “Now, countries can use  data and insights from the PVS reports, they can perform qualitative and quantitative analyses, and have a true evaluation and monitoring framework based on the level of achievement of the PVS critical competencies.”  

Some Members have already started using the new platform. “In the past, we had to browse through long documents to retrieve specific information. The new information system will make our life easier”, said Dr Pebi Suseno, Senior Veterinary Officer in Indonesia. With a few clicks, we can fetch the data and recommendations we need for each project.”  

For Barbara Alessandrini, the new information system will revolutionise the way PVS data are used, in line with their original intention: “Members are empowered with the information. Technical and financial partners are empowered. WOAH is empowered. Transparency of national Veterinary Services is increased by Members sharing information. And we have demonstrated, over the years, that evidence-based decision-making is always more effective.”  

Building capacities from initial to continuing education 

WOAH prioritises the professional development of every actor within the veterinary workforce whether they are veterinarians, veterinary paraprofessionals, or community animal health workers. We ensure robust initial education by producing comprehensive guidelines for veterinary education institutions and fostering twinning projects, while we also accompany their continuing education by facilitating trainings and providing an accessible e-learning platform.

Our commitment extends further as we foster an enabling environment that contributes to a better performance of Veterinary Services. This includes, among others, the development of adequate veterinary legislation, the implementation of efficient public-private partnerships, and the creation of sustainable national laboratory networks.  


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What if artificial intelligence were used as a response to the global shortage of the  veterinary workforce? What kind of challenges would rapidly rising water temperatures pose for aquaculture and fishing in general? Turning 100 seems like another perfect opportunity to take a step back and reflect on what comes next.

From September 2023 to January 2024, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) led a foresight project which brought together more than 70 stakeholders from the animal health and welfare domains. The goal: to leverage foresight methods to imagine possible futures and gather insightful ideas to make informed decisions and strategies.  

Why is WOAH using foresight? 

Interest in foresight is growing as more individuals and organisations acknowledge that embracing uncertainty and analysing multiple futures is crucial to navigating the challenges of the 21st century. In this context, Members asked WOAH to establish foresight initiatives at regional and global level in 2019. The goal was to navigate, plan for and adapt to uncertain futures. 

As a response, WOAH started using foresight methods to raise awareness of prevailing or emerging changes, opportunities or disruptions, within the animal health and welfare sectors and beyond. These methods include the examination of the consequences of trends and emerging issues, such as climate change, through scenarios that can guide decision making and policies, by helping test existing strategies and develop new ones. Foresight fosters our capacity to embrace uncertainty, rather than seek to eliminate it. This empowers the Organisation and its Members to look at the present through a different lens. 

From the eco-revolution to space exploration: five animal health scenarios 

For WOAH’s 100th anniversary, a participatory foresight project was organised in a series of consecutive workshops. To ensure a youth perspective, members from the International Veterinary Students Association (IVSA) participated, alongside experienced animal health and welfare professionals. They explored current and emerging trends and drivers for change, such as the rise of AI, biothreats, medical advances or climate change, to build a range of possible futures scenarios. 

Five scenarios were drafted: “Eco-revolution rising” explored food system impacts of climate change and proliferation of biotechnology. “In WOAH we trust” addressed the impacts of misinformation and erosion of public trust in the context of a food system crisis. “Hangry games” described a food system collapse following political and economic tensions, in a context where artificial intelligence has become central to addressing animal health and welfare challenges.  

“Animal health from the bottom of the oceans to the stars” explored technological developments in animal production intersecting with the growing space industry, leading to the first off-planet satellite farms. “Farming for resilience” described the effects of polycrises on farming, the diversity of farming practices from small-scale cooperatives to robot-led farming, as well as the release of multispecies superbugs upon the world by the dark side of science.  

Foresight_the future of animal health_Eco revolution rising
Scenario One: Eco revolution rising
Foresight_The future of Animal Health In WOAH we trust
Scenario two: In WOAH we trust
Foresight_The futures of animal health_Scenario Three Hangry games
Scenario three: Hangry games
Foresight_the future of animal health_from the oceans to the stars
Scenario four: Animal health from the bottom of the oceans to the stars
Foresight_future of animal health_farming for resilience
Scenario five: Farming for resilience

During the last series of workshops, participants developed innovative strategies to address the challenges described in these scenarios. Each participant contributed with their priorities in mind and discovered additional ones in the process. Solutions were considered collectively, ranging from  greater exposure of young children to science and experimentation, to training on innovative technologies for all veterinarians, and a global step up of the One Health approach.  

Fostering long-term vision and current action 

What main challenges are animal health and welfare facing in the coming years? Participants of the foresight project representing the youth shared their views. For Anandu Rajaji, IVSA member from India, “the surging popularity of meat and milk replacers necessitates comprehensive research”, and the rise of antimicrobial resistance demands urgent action. For IVSA Animal Welfare chair Anna Wilson from India, “the root causes of many emerging diseases, climate changes, human-animal conflicts, and other environmental problems, are deforestation and pollution”. “The enormity of our challenges has become more apparent to me,” she adds.

While the foresight project has confronted each participant with the reality of the challenges lying ahead, it also fostered dialogue and collective brainstorming.

The future now presents exciting challenges, brimming with opportunities for positive change.




Marta Masserdoti,
One Health chair at IVSA, Italy.

A committed animal health and welfare community 

The importance of the animal health and welfare sector and the responsibility of its stakeholders in addressing present and future challenges now appears clearer than ever. “It is becoming increasingly clear that animal health is interconnected with the biggest issues facing the world today. It is precisely their magnitude that should instill in us an unwavering hope that the world, especially the youth, will come together to address them”, states Mehdi Amrani Souhli, an IVSA member from Morocco. 

Faced with the numerous possible outcomes of today’s trends, participants in the foresight project found comfort within this community. As collective images of the futures appeared, the group developed common perspectives on what is possible, and a shared sense of identity and possibility. 

My vision of the future changed for the better when I realised there are like-minded people out there trying to make fundamental changes to the systemic challenges we face.

Lisa Buren, a member of the IVSA from the Netherlands.

What is foresight? 

Foresight is a field of study that consists in identifying emerging trends and issues in the present, and using this insight to map out possible futures. The possible futures aim at supporting decision-making in the present. It draws on the use of strategic thinking skills to make strategic decisions. Foresight may involve a wide range of techniques.


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The economic, social and cultural importance of animals for human societies is as old as time. Animals are critical for food security, human health, livelihoods, sustainability and even to provide emotional support. For instance, “It is estimated that 200 million working animals support the livelihoods of over one billion people around the world”, notes Roly Owers, Chair of the International Coalition for Animal Welfare (ICFAW) which collaborates with WOAH to improve animal welfare across the world.  

With the prominent roles animals have in our lives “comes an ethical responsibility to ensure the welfare of animals is upheld to the greatest extent practicable”, adds Dr Carol Sheridan, Assistant Secretary of the Animal Welfare Branch in the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Yet, NGOs such as the World Horse Welfare, a member of the ICFAW, still observe “a lack of recognition of [the] importance, and health and welfare at policy level”

welfare strategy_caring for animals
Caring for animal welfare through proper nutrition and rearing conditions is the cornerstone of sustainable animal production. This has a direct impact on animal health and productivity. 
Photo: © Ginger Wood

Building momentum for animal welfare 

Today, we define WOAH’s mission as “improving animal health and welfare across the globe.” This second aspect, closely connected to the first, became part of the Organisation’s mandate with the adoption of a resolution in 2002. Members recognised the essential link between animal health and animal welfare, and asked WOAH [then OIE] to develop a detailed vision and strategy that would incorporate all the facets of this complex issue.  

More than twenty years later, important strides have been made. At the first Animal Welfare Global Conference, organised in Paris, France, in 2004, national Delegates adopted the first standards on animal transport and slaughter, working in collaboration with international organisations, the private sector, and the civil society. These standards were published in the Terrestrial Code in 2004 and in the Aquatic Code in 2008. Animal welfare was officially defined as “the physical and mental state of an animal in relation to the conditions in which it lives and dies.”

The Five Freedoms

Developed in 1965, the “Five Freedoms” describe the conditions that animals should experience when under human control.  

  1. Freedom from hunger, malnutrition and thirst. 
  2. Freedom from fear and distress. 
  3. Freedom from heat, stress or physical discomfort. 
  4. Freedom from pain, injury and disease. 
  5. Freedom to express normal patterns of behaviour. 

Developing standards based on science and evidence 

Producers’ organisations, such as the International Poultry Council, provided their professional perspective in the making of WOAH’s standards. “Our real-life input is critical to ensuring that WOAH’s work is based on farm level knowledge and science,” said Ricardo Santin, president of the Council. “International governmental guidance needs to be taken to the national level, and ultimately to the farm level. This is a process that takes the right communication and training tools so the private sector can act upon government sector guidance.”  

For Dr Carol Sheridan, “The development of WOAH Standards has promoted a shared understanding of animal welfare and the ethical treatment of animals” which contributes to improving animal welfare at all levels. By coining international standards based on science, we provided Members with guidance to develop their own national directions.  

“WOAH Standards were a key building block for the development of Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock and the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System”, adds Dr Carol Sheridan. The making of these standards also sheds light on the importance of animal welfare to sustain human societies:

The very existence of WOAH Standards for the welfare of working equids has raised awareness of the value and roles of working animals who are often invisible.

Roly Owers, Chair of the International Coalition for Animal Welfare (ICFAW).
welfare_two  juvenile llama interacts with its elder in a stable
A juvenile llama interacts with its elder in a stable. Behavioural interaction is one of five domains used to assess animal welfare, along with nutrition, health, mental state and living environment. Photo: © EC-WOAH

A strategy that acknowledges animal welfare’s contribution to sustainable development 

The fourth Animal Welfare Conference in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2016, paved the way for the adoption of WOAH’s Global Animal Welfare Strategy. In this roadmap, WOAH [then OIE] enumerates different roles of animals and recognises “all these purposes as legitimate, while carrying an associated ethical responsibility to ensure any such use is humane, as defined through the OIE’s international standards for animal welfare, in recognition of the sentience of animals.” 

Far from abstract ethics, animal welfare is approached as a key asset to sustainable development. WOAH’s Global Animal Welfare Strategy acknowledges that in animal production systems, attention to welfare can improve animal health, productivity, quality, food safety, and economic returns, and therefore contribute to food security and economic prosperity. “To maximise the poultry sector’s contribution to food security, maintaining healthy and productive birds is key, and animal welfare is key to a healthy bird”, confirms Ricardo Santin.  

welfare strategy_Animals are prepared for a flight
Animals are prepared for a flight, in line with WOAH’s standards on animal welfare during transport. Following these recommendations helps reduce pain and stress caused by long-distance transport. Photo: © WOAH/Miguel Vilatorro

Collaborating to bring animal welfare to farm life  

WOAH’s Global Animal Welfare Forums, as part of the key activities of the strategy, took over from the previous conferences to foster dialogue on the most challenging topics and make sure all stakeholders are on board. The last global forum, held in November 2023 in Paris, France, was an opportunity to share experience and good practices on national animal legislation. 

NGOs agree with producers and governments on this particular aspect: implementation is key “There is much to be done in order to properly implement WOAH Standards among countries and improve the welfare of animals worldwide,” notes Roly Owers, stressing the importance of collaboration between all actors, in line with WOAH’s Vision on Animal Welfare, published in 2024. 

Collaboration will be essential to counter the “increasing impact of climate change on livestock industries” which is bound to affect animal welfare, notes Dr Carol Sheridan. “Through organisations such as WOAH, we can address these as a global community”, she adds. Now, more than ever, WOAH calls for a paradigm shift in the way humans interact with animals – for their benefit and ours.


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Dame Sally Davies is the UK Special Envoy on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). After a career as a hematologist and as Chief Medical Officer for England, she is now a leading advocate on AMR on the global stage.  

Professor Scott Weese is a veterinarian and professor in pathobiology at the Ontario Veterinary College, Canada, and Director of the Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses. He is also a co-author of “Worms and Germs”, a popular science blog on animal health.

When was antimicrobial resistance first acknowledged?

Dame Sally Davies: Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin himself, recognised it as early as 1945. We were always aware it could happen. In the past decade, the data shows that AMR has been steadily on the rise. I was asked to chair the first Technical Advisory Group on AMR in 2014 and the first Global Action Plan was passed in 2015 at the World Health Organization (WHO) with the support of WOAH and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).  

Professor Scott Weese: Issues in animals emerged similarly but it took longer for us to recognise them as resistance because there is less testing and research in animal health compared with human health. Still WOAH did warn against improper use of antibiotics as early as 1952, in a resolution.  

“Practitioner must not use antibiotics at the discretion of his fantasy, but following rules that have been set by experience. Use of antibiotics against insensitive germs or specifically resistant, utilisation of too weak doses or through a too short time frame, can reveal resistant germs, delaying the onset of an efficient therapy and lead to treatment failures, harming a method that, when judiciously and correctly applied, has saved numerous human and animal lives.”

Abstract from WOAH’s 1952 resolution based on scientific evidence reported in 1948.  

Why do human and animal health stakeholders need to work together to fight AMR?  

Prof. S.W. We are not sure how much AMR in humans is attributable to animals: probably between 4% and 96%! What we do know is that we need everyone to act. Doctors, veterinarians, humans and animal carers alike. In the past, a “blame game” was going on: veterinarians blaming physicians for giving children antibiotics against viral infections [reminder: it doesn’t work], physicians blaming the overuse of antibiotics on livestock… The truth is, we all need to do a better job

D.S.D. Calculations by WHO have shown that antibiotics give an extra 20 years of life to humans. We don’t want to misuse them so that resistance develops. We also know that animals, including humans, pee and poo more than 70% of the antibiotics they absorb. Without extraordinarily modern sewage, high-use farms, hospitals, and other facilities can contaminate the environment.  

What can an international organisation such as WOAH do?  

Prof. S.W. WOAH has been a strong voice on issues such as growth promotion. Telling farmers what to do can be unpopular, so it makes it easier for countries if they get international support. There is also an advocacy component, to get Nations to bring in robust funded action plans to improve more than just antibiotic use, but whole health systems.  

D.S.D. WOAH plays a leadership role. It shows that AMR matters, and that it is not only a concern of human health.  

Tackling AMR_a scientist in an in-house farm with chickens
Growth promotion means using antimicrobials in healthy animals to boost productivity. Most countries have implemented legislative and regulatory measures to phase out this practice. Yet further efforts are needed as these drugs are still being inappropriately used as growth promoters.

What were the key achievements in the past years? 

D.S.D. In 2016, at the United Nations High-level meeting, the Secretary General established the Inter-Agency coordination group (IACG) which brought in WOAH, WHO and FAO as equals, working together. In 2019, the Global Leaders Group was created, with a Joint Secretariat including WOAH, WHO, FAO, and recently the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The inclusion of UNEP shows that resistance is no longer just a human health, or animal health issue, but truly “One Health”. Most countries are now ready to have a national action plan against AMR, although funding is still an issue. The recently launched Multi-Stakeholder Platform brings in the private sector and civil society, as responsible use is not only a matter of regulation, but of awareness, understanding and collective engagement from everyone.  

What can be done today against antimicrobial resistance?

D.S.D. Let’s start with preventing infections. The first thing is to have clean water, use of soap, sanitation, good air flow: in health care facilities, in animal rearing, and in people’s homes. We need more use of vaccines: routine campaigns, as well as new vaccines for animal farming. We also need to improve diagnostics, so that antibiotics are used only when appropriate, not because of an erratic diagnosis or for growth promotion. Action on antimicrobial resistance requires support and training for veterinary and medical expertise. 

Prof. S.W. AMR is a tricky issue, because it is an end result of our health care challenges. There is no miracle cure: let’s start with better barns, with good ventilation. We need better education, empowerment of women who are often decision-makers for health issues and equitable access to appropriate treatments and preventives. We also need to change mindsets in farming, because we get a lot of resistance to change from people who have always done things a certain way and don’t necessarily understand why we can’t go on the way we used to.  

What will you propose at the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations on AMR ?

D.S.D. We would like to come out of the High-Level Meeting in September 2024 with an independent scientific panel, owned by low- and middle-income countries, which could set targets for the world. UNEP could play a key role in making sure of that, with its experience with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).  

Prof. S.W. We need to focus on actionable things for prescribers and farmers. Reducing use of antibiotics by kilograms is not an effective target, because the outcomes vary from drug to drug. We need more funding for research, to understand exactly which components drive resistance. For example, we are preparing an app-based guideline for Veterinary Services in low- and middle-income countries, with content adapted to what’s available in each country. We also proposed an AWaRe-type classification for antibiotics for animal use.  

D.S.D. We need standards to implement the good practices that we already know are working, as well as innovation on growth promotion, disinfection, diagnosis, affordable new treatments and vaccines. For the 2024 High-Level Meeting, I suggested a focus on access to medication because you can’t worry about resistance when people are not getting access to standard and essential antibiotics, basic hygiene, vaccines. 

Prof. S.W. People are not marching on the streets for antimicrobial resistance like they do for climate change: we need to motivate people, groups and Nations to act. Rather than deflecting blame, we need all organisations to work together. A One-Health approach, as we are building it right now, is much more effective.


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On 13 March 2024, WOAH informed the world that “high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) [had] reached an unprecedented milestone, with the discovery of a dead South Polar skua on an Argentinian Antarctic base. Samples of the dead animal were sent for analysis on a neighbouring base, where it was demonstrated that the seabird had died from HPAI. An immediate notification was published on the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS), with recommendations for joint action.

This new information was added to the database, mapped and time-referenced with other recent animal health events, providing professionals and relevant stakeholders with a global view of the most updated cases of African swine fever, SARS-CoV-2 or rabies, among other animal diseases, around the world.  

Sharing animal health information: the core of WOAH’s mission

“Without transparency and sharing of data and relevant information on the animal health situation, we would not be able to effectively prevent and fight existing animal diseases, not to mention the emerging threats,” states Jacob Jensen, the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark.

Data collection and publication were at the heart of WOAH’s original mandate since it was created, in 1924, in response to a rinderpest outbreak in Europe. By establishing the OIE, the 28 founding countries committed to notify the Organisation “of the suspicion or confirmation of an outbreak of a disease, an infection/infestation or other epidemiological event”, so that all the Members’ veterinary authorities could be warned in turn. At the time, notifications happened through the fastest means of communication available: telegrams.  

One hundred years on, the system has evolved and is still as relevant as ever.

Disease reporting and the timely exchange of information are vital as climate change and the increasing pressure on natural resources pose significant challenges that may contribute to the emergence of new diseases.

Mahmoud Elies Hamza, the Minister of Agriculture of Tunisia.
Animal health information_A shepherd and sheep in the mountains_Iran Veterinary Organization.
A shepherd and sheep in the mountains. With its 13 regional representations and online digital platforms, WOAH works to enhance access to animal health information in remote areas. 
Photo: © Iran Veterinary Organization

Tracking data and rumours

Through the years, data collection and dissemination progressed along with the available technology. The first digital database, Handistatus, was made available in 1996, and the central server for WAHIS was created in 2005. At the time, the platform already included an early warning system associating alert messages on new cases of disease worldwide to a monitoring system with follow-up and thematic reports on all topics, including Veterinary Services, vaccine production, animal population and human cases of zoonoses.  

By 2016, WAHIS was providing spatial and temporal information on diseases, details on diagnostic tests and laboratories performing them, quantitative data on infected animals and qualitative data on control measures and status of diseases. “The data verification process is a critical control point for our Organisation, comprising consistency checks with historical observations, regional and global context, as well as unofficial information that is circulating.” said Dr Montserrat Arroyo, WOAH’s Deputy Director General on International Standards and Science.

Timely information ensures safe trade

By receiving animal health information from countries and territories and sharing it in a timely manner, WOAH supports safe trade between countries.

Faced with the presence of African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks in Americas, Mexico has taken full advantage of WAHIS:

This international surveillance has allowed us to keep our risk analysis for the introduction of ASF up-to-date, to detect possible routes of introduction and to establish new barriers to maintain safe trade.

Dr Juan Gay Gutiérrez, Director General on Animal Health and WOAH Delegate for Mexico.

 For New Zealand Minister for Biosecurity, Hon Andrew Hoggard, “the accurate and transparent dissemination of information on animal disease occurrence is fundamental for importing countries to confidently trade with New Zealand.”  

Not only does it help maintain safe trade, countries that regularly report to WAHIS could obtain new trade opportunities thanks to the transparency that comes with a functional information system: “Our good reporting history in WAHIS is one tangible way to demonstrate we have a robust national animal biosecurity system and that we are transparent in our disease status, which aids in building trust with our trading partners,” notes Hon Andrew Hoggard. 

+100

countries have reported outbreaks of 46 different animal diseases in 2023 

Nearly

5,000

alert notifications have been disseminated since the launch of WAHIS in 2005 

Making open access to animal health information a reality 

The WAHIS in 2017 contained a wealth of reliable information. It was time to face a new challenge: making data access easier for all users. After four years of development and testing, a renovated system was launched in 2021. The new system is quicker and more intuitive, providing the ability to mine and download data, and visualise temporal and spatial data. The information is available to complement other organisations’ as well as national and regional databases of interest, allowing for enhanced decision-making worldwide.  

As it has been for 100 years, the animal health data collected by WOAH is free and available to everyone: government agencies, industries, researchers, academics, journalists–in line with the Organisation’s founding principle, that reliable, timely, accessible information is crucial for efficient global action on animal health, and public health.  

Resources to control priority animal diseases 

To help countries face animal health challenges such as rabies, tuberculosis or foot and mouth disease, among others, WOAH does not only provide its Members with access to verified data; knowledge acquired on diseases is used to draft specific strategies jointly with key partners. These frameworks outline practical recommendations to guide countries in the prevention and control of priority animal diseases.  

In addition, WOAH enhances access to high-quality vaccines through its banks, which have been set up for rabies, peste des petits ruminants and foot and mouth disease in recent years. As of April 2023, over 125 million doses of vaccines had been delivered for these diseases. 


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