Agreement with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)

AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE OFFICE INTERNATIONAL DES EPIZOOTIES (OIE)
AND
THE INTER-AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR COOPERATION ON AGRICULTURE (IICA)

Adopted by IICA on 11 January 1993 and by the OIE on 31 January 1993

The present Framework Agreement between the Office International des Epizooties (hereinafter referred to as the OIE), represented by its Director General, Dr Jean Blancou, and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (hereinafter referred to as IICA), represented by its Director General, Dr Martín E. Piñeiro, is entered into on the basis of the following clauses:

WHEREAS:

1. The OIE is the world organisation responsible for the collection and dissemination of information on the international animal health situation and for drawing up the International Animal Health Code¹;

2.  IICA is the specialized agency for agricultural and rural development of the inter-American system;

3. The OIE recognizes the importance of the animal health activities carried out by IICA in Latin America and the Caribbean;

4. IICA acknowledges the worldwide role of the OIE in the surveillance and control of animal diseases;

5. The two parties consider it necessary and appropriate to join efforts to fight animal diseases within the framework of their respective mandates and regulations;

6. Through the joint and complementary efforts of the OIE and IICA, it will be possible to contribute more effectively to agricultural and rural development in the Member States of IICA.

  THE OIE AND IICA AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING:

Article One

Objectives

The present Framework Agreement lays the foundation necessary for achieving the following objectives:

a. To join efforts in order to contribute as effectively as possible in the prevention, control and eradication of animal diseases, with a view to improving the animal health situation in Latin America and the Caribbean.

b. To provide a legal framework and basis for joint actions aimed at responding to the specific needs arising from shared health concerns, at the initiative of either Party.

Article 2

Areas of cooperation

The areas of cooperation of this Framework Agreement shall be all those that contribute to achieving the objectives indicated in Article One.

By reason of the needs of the OIE and IICA in this field, the following areas can be considered for joint co-operative efforts between the two parties:

a. Supporting the efforts of Latin American and Caribbean countries in the prevention, control and eradication of animal diseases.

b. Strengthening national and regional institutions responsible for the prevention, control, diagnosis, treatment and eradication of animal diseases, and for health information in Latin America and the Caribbean.

c. Exchanging information related to work projects and programmes, and technical documents of common interest.

d. Setting up mechanisms for consultation on matters of common interest, in pursuit of the objectives of the present Framework Agreement.

e. Collaborating in the collection and analysis of data and in setting up and operating an animal health information system for the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, in order to make effective information available rapidly to these countries for developing their trade in animals and animal products.

f. Drafting and translating documents aimed at the harmonization of health conditions in the international trade of animals and animal products.

g. Collaborating with pertinent national or regional bodies in exercising health control of products of animal origin, for human or animal consumption, to ensure that such foodstuffs are healthy and safe and do not contain unacceptable amounts of biological or drug residues.

h. Cooperating in establishing a harmonized system on the use and registration of veterinary drugs.

Article 3

Reciprocal representation

The Director General of the IICA shall invite the Director General of the OIE to attend or be represented at, but without the right to vote, the meetings programmed by the Directorate of IICA’s Animal Health Program. Similarly, the Director General of the OIE shall invite the Director General of IICA to attend, or be represented at, but without the right to vote, the meetings of the OIE concerning the Americas and the conferences of the Regional Commission for the Americas.

Article 4

Organisation of meetings

By mutual agreement, the Parties may organise joint meetings between the OIE Regional Commission for the Americas and the IICA Animal Health Program.

Article 5

Measures

The measures which may be adopted to implement the specific agreements or operating contracts provided for under the present Agreement shall be those which the Parties consider the most appropriate to the stated objectives, with priority being given to the following:

a. Direct consultation, by means of technical missions or individual consultants.

b.  Technical and financial cooperation aimed at developing and carrying out projects within the aforementioned areas of cooperation.

c. Training, by means of lectures, seminars, workshops and training courses.

d. Information, by means of books, journals, bulletins, manuals and other means of communication.

Article 6

Entry into force, term and amendments

The present Framework Agreement will come into effect upon its signature by the second signatory Party and will remain in force for an indefinite period. However, either Party may terminate the Agreement subject to having communicated to the other Party an official reasoned notification of its intention, six months beforehand. Termination of the present Framework Agreement will have no effect upon the operation and completion of any specific agreements or operating contracts already being carried out.

The Parties may alter the present Framework Agreement through addenda that have been agreed upon by both Parties.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the duly authorised representatives of the Parties sign the present Framework Agreement, of which two copies are in English, two copies in French and two copies in Spanish, all of equal content and validity in Paris, France on the 31st day of January of the year nineteen hundred and ninety-three, and in San Isidro de Coronado, San Jose, Costa Rica, on the 11th day of January of the year nineteen hundred and ninety-three.

 

For the Office International des Epizooties Dr Jean Blancou Director General

For the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture Dr Martín E. Piñeiro Director General

 

¹ Terrestrial Animal Health Code, new denomination since 2003