Science Based Standards In A Changing World Canberra, Australia November 12 14, 2014 Dr. Brian Evans Deputy Director General Animal Health, Veterinary Public Health and International Standards
SEMINAR OBJECTIVES Support member countries contribution to the development and implementation of OIE s science based animal welfare standards Discuss the implications of animal welfare for international trade, including international, regional and bilateral trade agreements; Identify the role and responsibility of national Veterinary Services including Focal Points in this field; Share experiences among member countries and provide practical examples to help Veterinary Services develop and implement appropriate veterinary legislation and policies; Launch a discussion on the use of regional strategies to support development and implementation of the OIE Global Animal Welfare Strategy Foster the establishment of a community of practice and culture of animal welfare
PRESENTATION OUTLINE OIE History and Overview The Science Behind the Standards OIE Animal Welfare International Standards Current and Future Work Program
Chronology NINETY YEARS OF HISTORY 1924 1945 2003 Creation of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) Creation of the United Nations World Organisation for Animal Health Intergovernmental standard-setting organisation Mandate of the OIE: to improve animal health, veterinary public health and animal welfare worldwide
180 OIE MEMBERS IN 2014 53 30 54 20 36
MISSION OF THE OIE To ensure transparency in the global animal disease situation To collect, analyse and disseminate veterinary scientific information To encourage international solidarity in the control of animal diseases 6
MISSION OF THE OIE To safeguard world trade by publishing health standards for international movement of animals and animal products To improve the legal framework and resources of national Veterinary Services To contribute to food security through animal production food safety in collaboration with CODEX and to promote animal welfare through a science-based approach 7
GOVERANCE STRUCTURE OF THE OIE
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE CONT D
NATIONAL FOCAL POINTS Designated Under the Authority of the Delegate for each of the following 8 areas: Aquatic animal diseases Communication Wildlife Animal disease notification ANIMAL WELFARE Animal production food safety Veterinary products Veterinary Laboratories
NATIONAL FOCAL POINTS GENERAL ROLES AND RESPONSABILITIES Assist the Delegate to Comment on draft standards proposed by the OIE Prepare and implement appropriate legislation Technical contact points with the OIE Regional Offices and Headquarters Under the authority of the Delegate Information exchange and international networking
NATIONAL FOCAL POINTS FOR ANIMAL SPECIFIC ROLES AND RESPONSABILITIES WELFARE Establish a national network of animal welfare contacts Private sector, Academic, State/Territory/Province, NGO s Facilitate dialogue and communication Receive and disseminate reports of the Commissions and Working Groups Conduct in-country consultations on proposed draft texts Prepare comments for the Delegate
WTO SPS AGREEMENT (1995) Legal framework for sanitary safety in international trade Recognises OIE as the reference body for standard setting related to animal health and safe international movement of animals and animal products
THE 3 SISTERS Standard-setting organisations food safety CODEX animal health and zoonoses OIE plant health IPPC Codex = Codex Alimentarius Commission (FAO/WHO) OIE = World Organisation for Animal Health IPPC = International Plant Protection Convention (FAO) 14
Updating International Standards 1 Committee, Commissions, Delegates ISSUE / PROBLEM Specialist Commissions Review Advice of experts or other Specialist Commissions Draft text 4 Comments OIE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD Delegates 1 2 2 World 3 Assembly Adoption 15
PROVIDING COMMENTS OIE Member Countries have scheduled opportunities to comment on draft standards. October March May GS Written comments Written comments Oral statements or requests for clarification
THE OIE AND ANIMAL WELFARE: A STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT Animal welfare has been identified as a priority for the OIE since the adoption of the Third Strategic Plan (2001 2005) in May 2000, under the mandate voted by all Member Countries.
OIE ANIMAL WELFARE WORKING GROUP (AWWG)
AWWG MISSION To provide international leadership through the development of science based standards and guidelines for animal welfare To advise the Director General and the Aquatic and Terrestrial Commissions concerning OIE priorities and proposed activities in the field of animal welfare; Preparation and circulation of educational material to enhance awareness of OIE Members and stakeholders; Promotion of the inclusion of AW in undergraduate and post-graduate veterinary curricula; Identification of AW research needs and encouragement of collaboration between centres of research.
AWWG MANDATE Development of standards leading to good practices in animal welfare (AW); Provision of expert advice on AW issues to OIE Specialist commissions; Provision of expert advice on AW issues to OIE Members and to stakeholder groups, including: other international organisations; industry / consumers; Provision of reports on AW issues; Maintaining international databases on: AW information, including different national legislation and policies; internationally recognised AW experts; examples of good AW practice and implementation of OIE standards.
AWWG MANDATE CONT D Supporting the work of the animal welfare collaborating centres Convening and participation in relevant ad hoc group meetings Representing the OIE in relevant international or regionall expert meetings Engagement with the OIE Regional Commissions on Regional Welfare Strategies Supporting focal point training.
OIE AD HOC GROUPS Convened to develop texts on specific topics, as the basis for OIE standards Academia, government and private sector subject matter experts More than a hundred experts have participated developing OIE animal welfare standards.
OIE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS 23
REFERENCE LABORATORIES Expert Centres for animal diseases 247 Reference Laboratories in 38 countries 117 diseases
COLLABORATING CENTRES Centres of excellence on horizontal topics 49 Collaborating Centres in 26 countries 46 topics
THE OIE SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE OIE Animal Welfare Collaborating Centres 1. Animal Welfare and Livestock Production Systems URUGUAY CHILE MÉ XICO 2. Animal Welfare Science and Bioethical Analysis AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND 3. Laboratory Animal Welfare and Science UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 4. Veterinary Training, Epidemiology, Food Safety and Animal Welfare ITALY
THE WORLD IS CHANGING Animal welfare is not covered under the SPS Agreement Recent dispute ruling between Canada and the European Union on seal products referenced animal welfare as a consideration Impact of the decision for the future is unclear
Increased public concern over the management of animals in production systems, transportation and slaughter
Researchers: Cattle welfare more important than cost to consumers CattleNetwork.com 23/09/2014 Research from Kansas StateUniversity and Michigan State University has found that the treatment of cattle is more important to consumers than the cost of beef, Laurann Robinson reported for ABC s Nebraska affiliate Nebraska TV. 29
Development by ISO and the private sector of standards for supply chain management
The Poultry Site, September 10, 2014 reported: Two leading international food processors, Nestlés and Unilever, have laid out welfare codes of practice for their supply chain with assistance from World Animal Protection 31
Increased use of public: private partnerships to achieve shared objectives OIE has Cooperative Agreement with World Animal Protection (WSPA) Animal welfare is a day one competency for veterinary education
THE CONTEXT Complexity of AW with important scientific, ethical, cultural, religious, economic and political dimensions. essential to have a scientific base but account must be taken of other dimensions.
THE CONTEXT Texts must be applicable to 180 OIE Members with diverse socio-economic, cultural and religious contexts. Therefore OIE follows an outcomebased not a design criteria approach, Based on Guiding Principles
OIE ANIMAL WELFARE GUIDING PRINCIPLES (7.1.2) Recognizes critical interdependence between animal health and animal welfare Considers the Five freedoms: Freedom from hunger, thirst and malnutrition Freedom from fear and distress Freedom from physical and thermal discomfort Freedom from pain, injury and disease Freedom to express normal patterns of behaviour
OIE ANIMAL WELFARE GUIDING PRINCIPLES (7.1.2) Valuable guidance from the three R s on use of animals in Science Reduction in number of animals Refinement of experimental methods Replacement of animals with non-animal techniques Scientific assessment involves diverse elements
OIE ANIMAL WELFARE GUIDING PRINCIPLES (7.1.2) Animals contribute to the well-being of people An inherent ethical responsibility Improvements in farm animal welfare can improve productivity and food safety leading to economic benefits The basis for the comparison of the standards and recommendations is founded on equivalent outcomes based on performance criteria rather than identical systems based on design criteria
EXISTING STANDARDS Section 7. Animal welfare Chapter 7.1. Introduction to the recommendations for animal welfare Chapter 7.2.Transport of animals by sea Chapter 7.3.Transport of animals by land Chapter 7.4.Transport of animals by air Chapter 7.5.Slaughter of animals Chapter 7.6.Killing of animals for disease control purposes Chapter 7.7.Stray dog population control Chapter 7.8.Use of animals in research and education Chapter 7.9.Animal welfare and beef cattle productions systems Chapter 7.10.Animal welfare and broiler chicken production systems
EXISTING STANDARDS Section 7. Welfare of farmed fish Chapter 7.1. Introduction to recommendations for the welfare of farmed fish Chapter 7.2. Welfare of farmed fish during transport Chapter 7.3. Welfare aspects of stunning and killing of farmed fish for human consumption Chapter 7.4.Killing of farmed fish for disease control purposes
CURRENT AND FUTURE WORK Production systems Dairy Cattle (on going work); Swine Reptiles Welfare of working equids Natural disaster risk reduction and management in relation to animal health and welfare and Veterinary public health
41 FINAL REMARKS The generation of information and clear and transparent policies on animal welfare from stakeholders are needed to address animal welfare OIE is committed to supporting countries, especially Developing Countries, in the implementation of OIE standards, taking into account economic, cultural or social differences between countries; OIE advocates for regional strategies/initiatives to efficiently address the different levels of advancement of standards implementation; Animal Welfare standards implementation strongly rely on efficient national Veterinary Services as the key players in establishing appropriate and sustainable legislation and to ensure its efficient implementation;
42 FINAL REMARKS Critical to the continued acceptance of the OIE standards is transparency during standards development and the use of scientific, risk-based approaches, including assessment of adverse health or environmental consequences that may in turn have socio-economic consequences. Scientific evidence used as a basis for standards development should be representative of all relevant situations throughout the world so that the resulting standards have international relevance.
Thank you for your attention!