World Organisation for Animal Health

The World Organisation for Animal Health, formerly the Office International des Epizooties, is an intergovernmental organisation founded in 1924, coordinating, supporting and promoting animal disease control. The primary objective of WOAH is to control epizootic diseases and prevent their spread. Further objectives include the sharing of transparent, scientific information; international solidarity; sanitary safety; and the promotion of veterinary services‚ food safety and animal welfare.
WOAH is recognised by the World Trade Organisation as an international reference for the safe trade of animals and animal products regarding risks due to animal diseases and zoonoses.
WOAH is not a part of the United Nations system. Its autonomy is institutional and financial, and its own constitutional texts govern its activities. Since its first General Session held in Paris, the Organisation has carried out its work under the authority of a committee consisting of delegates of the contracting governments. The Organisation maintains permanent relations with over 70 partner organisations and has regional and sub-regional offices on every continent.
During its 91st General Session, the World Assembly of Delegates elected Dr Emmanuelle Soubeyran as Director General for a five-year mandate.

History

Origin and founding

1920s: Establishment and early years
The Organisation's creation dates to the early 20th century, making it one of the oldest existing Intergovernmental Organisations. The Office International des Epizooties was created through an International Agreement signed on 25 January 1924. Earlier, in May 1921, a rinderpest pandemic motivated Delegates at the International Conference for the Study of Epizootics, with diplomats from 43 countries, to express a call for the establishment of an international organisation to coordinate responses against infectious animal diseases at a global level.
The need to fight animal diseases at a global level led to the creation of the Office International des Epizooties through the international agreement signed in January 1924.
1940s: Second World War and compatibility with newly founded agencies
The OIE had established its new headquarters by the end of the 1930s, but activities were slowed down by the eruption of the Second World War and the subsequent occupation of Paris by the Nazis in 1940. After the war, the existence of the OIE was initially challenged by the creation by the United Nations of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations in 1946, and the World Health Organisation in 1948, as both specialist agencies which partially cover the aims of the OIE. However, the opposition of numerous OIE Members and Delegates when the issue was raised in 1946 and 1951, kept the functions of the Organisation alive.
1950s to 1960s: Animal health legislation in the EU and Official agreements
By 1960, the OIE had signed an official agreement with FAO in 1952 and had lent its support to the first attempts to harmonise animal health legislation within the European Community after the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957. In 1960, an official agreement was signed between the OIE and WHO.
1990s: Recognition as an international standard-setting organisation
The 1990s witnessed the signing of various agreements with the OIE and organisations worldwide. In 1998, the OIE accepted a formal cooperation with the World Trade Organisation. The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, also known as the SPS Agreement, clearly defined the OIE as the reference organisation for animal health and zoonoses whereby Members are required to base sanitary or phytosanitary measures on international standards, guidelines, and recommendations.
After this, governments began to understand the importance of the Organisation. Between 1990 and 1999, 41 countries became Members. Set up between 1991 and 1999, the Regional Representations, for Asia and the Pacific, Eastern Europe, the Americas, and, lastly, the Middle East and Africa have allowed the Organisation to keep abreast of the challenges of its Members.
2000 to 2009: The World Organisation for Animal Health and further strategic agreements
In May 2003, the Office became the World Organisation for Animal Health, however, it kept its historical acronym OIE, which was in use until May 2022.
During this decade the OIE reached agreements with organisations and agencies, alongside a new agreement with WHO in 2002, including The World Bank, and World Veterinary Association amongst others.
2010-2020: Rinderpest eradication and increased collaboration with partners
In 2011, the national Delegates of OIE Members unanimously adopted a resolution that officially recognized, following thorough control by the OIE with the support of FAO, that all 198 countries and territories with rinderpest-susceptible animals are free of the disease.
Having celebrated the 85th anniversary of its creation the year before, the OIE adopted its 5th Strategic Plan, which set a roadmap for its global missions in animal health and welfare from 2011 to 2015. The plan sought to continue the key priorities set in previous plans with an enhanced focus on more activities directed to food security, poverty alleviation and animal health, and veterinary public health. Furthermore, the Organisation set a focus on the “One Health” concept, in cooperation with partner organisations.
In January 2017, the outgoing Obama administration designated the OIE as an organisation entitled to benefits of the International Organizations Immunities Act.
In March 2022, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Organisation for Animal Health, the UN Environment Programme, and the World Health Organization, signed a groundbreaking agreement to strengthen cooperation in the era of One Health, to sustainably balance and optimize the health of humans, animals, plants and the environment.
2022: The World Organisation for Animal Health – WOAH
In May 2022, the Organisation stopped using the historical acronym OIE, and started to use the new acronym WOAH.
2024: The Organisation commemorates its 100th anniversary, a significant milestone marking the Organisation's continued commitment to the health and well-being of animals worldwide.

Current policies and objectives

Overall focus

WOAH works to improve animal health and welfare worldwide. They do this in several ways. The Organisation monitors the emergence of animal diseases in terrestrial and aquatic animals, either domestic or wild, so they can act before the situation imperils animal health and welfare, public health, or livelihoods. By collecting, analysing, and disseminating veterinary scientific information, through standards, global initiatives, and publications, WOAH collaborates with a wide network of people and has a thorough knowledge base and pool of informative resources. The Organisation also ensures that its Members have the tools and capacity to equip their Veterinary Services and respond to the threats of animal diseases.
Ensure transparency in the global animal disease situation
Another key objective for WOAH is the provision of increased transparency, well-structured policies, increased resources to support Members, strengthened partnerships, and the notification and monitoring of global diseases and shared information via the Organisation's health information system, WAHIS.
Disseminate comprehensive information on animal disease events
Timely dissemination of information is crucial to containing outbreaks. The World Animal Health Information Database Interface provides access to all data held within WOAH's World Animal Health Information System. This interface provides access to immediate notifications on animal disease events, allowing the Organisation's Members to share follow-up reports in response to exceptional disease events in their countries or territories.

Organisational structure

WOAH functions under the authority of a World Assembly of Delegates designated by the Governments of Members. The Organisation is placed under the responsibility of a Director General elected by the World Assembly of Delegates. The International Committee passes resolutions, developed with the support of Commissions elected by delegates, and implemented at WOAH's headquarters.

Membership

As of May 2023, with the latest appointment of St Vincent and the Grenadines, WOAH counts 183 Members.

The World Assembly of Delegates

Composed of 183 Delegates, the World Assembly of Delegates is the highest authority of WOAH. Delegates belonging to all Members meet at least once a year at a General Session of the Assembly which lasts five days, held yearly in May in Paris. At the annual General Session, Delegates vote on important issues on animal diseases and animal health especially issues related to international trade.

Council

WOAH's Council meets at least twice a year to examine technical and administrative issues, such as the working programme and budgets that will be presented to the Assembly. The Council comprises the President of the World Assembly of Delegates, the Vice President, the Past President, and six Delegates representing all the regions. The current President is Dr Susana Pombo from Portugal.

Director general

WOAH has had eight directors general since its creation.

Name	Nationality	Tenure
Dr Emmanuel Leclainche	French	1927–1949
Dr Gaston Ramon	French	1949–1959
Dr René Vittoz	French	1959–1980
Dr Louis Blajan	French	1980–1990
Dr Jean Blancou	French	1990–2000
Dr Bernard Vallat	French	2000–2016
Dr Monique Eloit	French	2016–2024
Dr Emmanuelle Soubeyran	French	2024-2029