New Agreement with the International Federation for Animal Health (IFAH)

NEW AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION FOR
ANIMAL HEALTH (IFAH)
AND
THE WORLD ORGANISATION OF ANIMAL HEALTH (OIE)

Adopted by the IFAH and the OIE on 7 March 2007

The World Organisation for Animal Health, hereinafter referred to as OIE, will invite the International Federation for Animal Health, hereinafter referred to as IFAH, to be represented in an observer capacity at OIE meetings on matters of mutual concern.

2.  The OIE will forward to IFAH its catalogue of available publications to enable it to request OIE publications on activities related to the work of IFAH. IFAH will benefit from the same concessional rates as other organisations having official agreement with the OIE.

3.  OIE and IFAH will exchange unpriced documents on subjects of mutual interest.

4.  OIE will be invited to attend IFAH meetings on subjects that are of interest to the OIE.

5.  The two organisations will endeavour to develop further cooperation through both formal and informal consultations on the issues of common interest listed below and more particularly in areas related to antimicrobial resistance, harmonisation of legislation on veterinary drugs, funding of veterinary research and the use of genetically modified organisms in vaccine production.

6.  Meetings of Senior Management will be convened annually to benchmark progress in activities jointly agreed to.

ISSUES OF COMMON INTEREST

• The regulation  and usage of biologicals in the control of notifiable diseases
• The development of rapid diagnostic tests as an aid to the control of notifiable diseases and further support to OIE validation scheme.
• The development and registration of veterinary medicines for disease prevention and control and the use of VICH standards to advance such goals.
• The provision of general information and educational materials on the usage of veterinary medicines.
• The avoidance of misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in the control of resistance.
  Veterinary research to counter animal disease prevention and control.
• Consultation on international standards for the usage of veterinary medicines.
• Exchange of views on the approach by Intergovernmental organisations such as WHO/FAO/WTO on disease control strategies.
• Regional meetings covering aspects of legislation registration and usage of veterinary medicines.
• IFAH to serve as a facilitator for promoting OIE international positions to be distributed via Regional and National Veterinary Medicines Associations.
• Relations between the animal health industry and official veterinary services.
• Exchange of views on relevant aspects of food safety, hygiene and animal welfare.
  Dialogue with the human pharmaceutical industry to identify areas of common interest.

The agreement between IFAH and OIE signed on 28 may 2002 is hereby cancelled