The OIE Veterinary Legislation Support Programme (VLSP) is a logical continuation of the Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) Programme, with which it is harmonised. PVS evaluations have shown that in some cases veterinary legislation, which is the mainstay of public service measures and good governance, is obsolete or inadequate. For this reason it should be made a key concern of World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Member Countries. The VLSP is the outcome of these lessons and specific missions. It is based on the OIE Guidelines for Veterinary Legislation, which were published in 2009 for the benefit of countries showing a real desire for improvement.The aim of the programme is not to supply model legislation but to assist Member Countries and provide them with elements of methodology that will build their capacity to draft or update good-quality veterinary legislation. The objective is to enable them to produce independently veterinary legislation that is of good quality both internally (legislative drafting) and externally (relevant, acceptable and enforced).Following the initial request for assistance, the programme begins with a five-day identification mission to assess the quantitative and qualitative situation on the ground, as well as needs. In cases in which the country has defined its technical strategy and put in place the necessary operational resources, a one-year, renewable assistanceagreement can be concluded. The resources can be integrated into the budget of the Gap Analysis mission, and strategy definition can form part of the agreement. The specially selected experts then furnish the assistance provided for in the agreement. They apply the programme concepts within the OIE mandate strictly, while contributing their own experience.Good-quality harmonised veterinary legislation guarantees the implementation of international standards and the protection of the global public good that is veterinary public health. The public service nature of the VLSP justifies OIE funding the experts.
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