World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and Functions of its Focal Points Part 3 of 3

Over the last 2 weeks, we have looked at the important role the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) plays for global animal health issues, animal welfare and the trade of animals and animal products. We also became familiar with the functions of the focal points for Animal Disease Notification, Animal Production Food Safety, Animal Welfare, Aquatic Animals and Communications. In this week’s article, we will look at the functions of the national focal points for Veterinary Laboratories, Veterinary Products and Wildlife.

Responsibilities of each of the focal points: The OIE National Focal Point for Veterinary Laboratories

Details on tasks of the national focal point for Veterinary Laboratories are as follows:

1. to establish a network of experts in the country on veterinary laboratory issues and/or to communicate with existing networks;

2. to establish and maintain a dialogue with the Competent Authority for veterinary laboratories in the country, including facilitating cooperation and communication among several authorities where responsibility for veterinary laboratories is shared. This would also incorporate facilitating cooperation and communication with Competent Authorities of other National Laboratories, including those in other government Ministries. Keep updated on the legislation and activities of the National Veterinary Laboratories to verify that they are in conformity with the standards and guidelines of the OIE;

3. to serve as focal point for the OIE in topics related to the National Veterinary Laboratories, including contributing to determining the training and other capacity building needs for the National Veterinary Laboratories in the country;

4. to compile responses to requests for information required by the OIE in coordination with National Veterinary Laboratories that provide specific competence in the subject of consultation;

5. if prompted, to organize consultations with recognized experts in the area of veterinary laboratories in the country on OIE draft standards and/or guidelines and country proposals to the OIE of new standards;

6. 6. to prepare comments for the Delegate on all relevant OIE draft standards and/or guidelines and country proposals of new standards to the OIE, reflecting the points of view and the scientific positions of the OIE Member Country or the region;

7. to maintain contact with the other OIE national focal points for veterinary laboratories that belong to regional networks and with experts of OIE Reference Laboratories present in the Region;

8. to collaborate with OIE Reference Centers worldwide;

9. to prepare proposals for participation of National Veterinary Laboratories in the OIE Laboratory Twinning Programme when relevant.

The OIE National Focal Point for Veterinary Products

Details on tasks of the national focal point for Veterinary Products are as follows:

1. to establish a network of veterinary product experts within his country or to communicate with existing networks;

2. to establish and maintain a dialogue with the Competent Authority for veterinary products in his country, and to facilitate cooperation and communication among several authorities where responsibility is shared;

3. under the authority of the OIE Delegate of his country, to monitor legislation on and control of veterinary products to ensure that these are in support of OIE international standards, guidelines and recommendations;

4. to act as a contact point with the OIE on matters related to veterinary products;

5. to receive from the OIE Headquarters information on VICH1 activities and copies of the reports of the Biological Standards Commission and other relevant reports, should they address discussion points on veterinary products;

6. to conduct, on request, the in-country consultation process with recognised veterinary product experts on draft texts of standards and/or on guidelines and recommendations proposed in those reports; and

7. to prepare comments for the Delegate on each of the relevant meeting reports reflecting the scientific view and position of the individual OIE Member and/or the region, including comments on the proposals for new or revised OIE standards and guidelines and recommendations related to veterinary products.

The OIE National Focal Point on Wildlife

Details on tasks of the national focal point for Wildlife are as follows:

1. to establish a network of wildlife experts within his country or to communicate with the existing network;

2. to establish and maintain a dialogue with the Competent Authority for wildlife in his country, and to facilitate cooperation and communication among several authorities where responsibility is shared;

3. under the authority of the OIE Delegate of his country, to support the optimal collection and submission of wildlife disease information to the OIE through WAHIS (immediate notifications and follow-up reports, six-monthly reports, and annual questionnaires) to enable the OIE Delegate to more efficiently manage his OIE Member obligations;

4. to act as a contact point with the OIE Animal Health Information Department and the Scientific and Technical Department on matters related to information on wildlife including wildlife diseases;

5. to receive from the OIE Headquarters copies of the reports of the Working Group on Wildlife Diseases, selected reports of the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases and other relevant reports, should they address discussion points on wildlife or the livestock-wildlife interface and conduct the in-country consultation process with recognised wildlife and animal health experts on draft texts of standards proposed in those reports as well as draft standards proposed by the Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission when dealing with wildlife diseases; and

6. to prepare comments for the Delegate on each of the relevant meeting reports reflecting the scientific view and position of the individual OIE Member and/or the region including comments on the proposals for new OIE standards and guidelines related to wildlife.