Developing international standards in the ?eld of animal health and welfare: a mission at the core of the OIE’s mandate

摘要

Throughout history, movements of animals and animal products, whether for trade purposes or when livestock are moved during transhumance, have always been a source of disease spread. At a time when rinderpest was spreading around the world like wild?re along trading routes, the OIE’s founding countries decided to join forces to establish international sanitary rules that, when correctly applied, would minimise risks to public or animal health from trade in animals and products of animal origin. Coupled with a requirement for Member Countries to notify sanitary events observed on their territory, this mandate given to the OIE continues to be a major pillar of the Organisation.