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Agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION
OF THE UNITED NATIONS (FAO)
AND
THE OFFICE INTERNATIONAL DES EPIZOOTIES (OIE)
Adopted by the FAO and by the OIE on 24 May 2004
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations hereinafter referred to as FAO and the Office International des Épizooties (World Organisation for Animal Health), hereinafter referred to as the OIE, wishing to coordinate their efforts in the control of animal diseases and safety of food within the framework of their respective mandates, agree to the following:
Article 1
1.1 FAO and OIE agree to cooperate closely in matters of common interest pertaining to their respective fields of competence.
1.2 For the purposes of the present Agreement:
– "animal" includes livestock, birds, wild fauna, bees, companion animals, fish and other aquatic animals;
– "agriculture" includes crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry.
Article 2
2.1 The OIE is primarily responsible for the:
a. Establishment of standards, guidelines and recommendations relevant to animal diseases and zoonoses in accordance with its Statutes and as defined in the WTO-SPS Agreement.
b. Development and updating of international science-based reference standards and validation of diagnostic tests published in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Aquatic Animal Health Code, Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals and Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals;
2.2 FAO is primarily responsible for the:
a. Establishment of guidelines and recommendations on good agricultural practices relevant to the management of animal diseases and zoonoses;
b. Development of programmes and coordination of activities with other relevant organizations for the effective prevention and progressive control of important animal diseases, including promotion of the collection and analysis of information on the national distribution and impact of these diseases, and provision of relevant technical assistance, particularly in developing countries;
c. Establishment of international food safety standards, guidelines and other recommendations through the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission in accordance with its Statutes and as defined in the WTO-SPS agreement;
2.3 The following activities are object of joint action:
a. Development and maintenance of an appropriate early warning and surveillance system for major animal diseases, and using official OIE sanitary and scientific information as well as other relevant sources of disease information, through a permanent coordinated approach by the major partners of a Global Early Warning and Early Response System;
b. Joint development of international standards relating to those aspects in animal production which impact on food safety, in collaboration with other relevant international agencies.
c. International promotion and co-ordination of veterinary and other related research activities on animal diseases and zoonoses and those aspects in animal production which impact on food safety;
d. Elaboration of regional and international strategies and assist in the negotiation of agreements for the effective prevention and progressive control of animal diseases and zoonoses;
e. Internet portal implemented by FAO on international regulations regarding biosecurity related to animal diseases and zoonoses;
f. Provide expert advice on matters covered by this agreement;
g. Organising strategic meetings, conferences, committees, working groups and task forces on those aspects in animal production which impact on food safety control policies and programmes of both a regional and global scope;
h. Assisting, on request, countries in developing their veterinary education, veterinary services (or other competent authorities) and extension services;
i. Dissemination by publication and other means of technical information related to research, control methods, and those aspects in animal production which impact on food safety.
Article 3
FAO and the OIE jointly collaborate, in particular, by the following means:
a. Reciprocal exchange of reports, publications and information including incidence of animal diseases and zoonoses. Special arrangements may be made by the Director General of FAO and the Director General of the OIE for the collection and analysis of relevant information from any Member Nation and distribution of this information to governments of those countries which are not members of one or the other party;
b. Participation of each party in the relevant meetings and conferences of the other, with the right to take part in the discussions on a consultative basis. The two parties agree to avoid holding of meetings and conferences dealing with matters of mutual interest without prior consultation of the other party.
c. Each party may submit to the other proposals for technical consultation or specific action related to subjects of common interest;
d. Continuous consultation and concerted effort by the Director-General of FAO and the Director General of the OIE to reach the same or closely connected objectives and to avoid duplication.
e. Mutual consultation by the Director-General of FAO and the Director General of the OIE on matters of common interest, with a view to promoting arrangements for joint action in specific fields;
f. Adoption by the Director General of FAO and the Director-General of the OIE of appropriate administrative arrangements necessary to implement these policies, including exchange of experts, and cross-training of personnel.
Article 4
To promote efficiency and avoid duplication, FAO and the OIE shall, in the course of the preparation of their respective programmes of activity, in so far as they pertain to the present Agreement, submit to each other their draft programmes for comment and coordination, and each party shall take into account to the extent possible the recommendations of the other. Additionally, FAO and the OIE shall convene one annual coordination meeting of high level officials of each party.
Article 5
Both parties may request that the present Agreement be amended. Any such amendment shall be adopted by mutual consent. An exchange of letters will detail the implementation of this agreement.
Article 6
The present Agreement supersedes the Agreement concluded previously between FAO and the OIE.
For the OIE | For the FAO Deputy Director General |