Bhutan's experience with the OIE Pathways and veterinary legislation

摘要

In 2008 the government of Bhutan requested that the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) undertake a Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) evaluation mission. That mission took place in June 2008. Among other things, the PVS report recommended that the government of Bhutan: "... support the promotion of detailed animal health and veterinary public health legislation and develop and implement formal procedures for preparing legislation. Also, procedures for auditing and updating Veterinary Services (VS) activities should be developed and documented. The VS should ensure the consistent application of legislation and the full implementation of regulatory programmes and, wherever possible, document these. A mechanism to consult with stakeholders in planning animal and veterinary public health legislation should be investigatedFollowing these recommendations the government of Bhutan requested the assistance of the OIE in assessing its national veterinary legislation and making recommendations for strengthening the legal base of the VS. For that purpose, the OIE conducted a mission in April 2009. That mission concluded that Bhutan's primary legislation was generally sound. However, the mission also identified substantial gaps between the international standards, represented by the OIE Guidelines on Veterinary Legislation, andBhutan's secondary legislation, notably in the field of veterinary certification, livestock identification and traceability, animal disease surveillance, and disease prevention and control. The upgrading of its legislation presents an enormous challengefor the government and will necessitate the use of a strategic framework and coordination of technical, scientific, administrative and legal competencies. This work will take time and a serious commitment from the government, in terms of not only the VSbut also other concerned ministries and stakeholders. The formation of a task force with representation from other ministries, legal advisors and stakeholders could be envisaged. Although the government of Bhutan is solely responsible for defining its national animal health priorities and strategy, and the legislation needed to support those, the benefits arising from ongoing advice from and collaboration with the OIE have been recognised. Accordingly, the government is considering entering into a memorandum of understanding with the OIE as a framework for developing national secondary legislation that is more closely aligned with OIE recommendations.