DEVELOPING & PROMOTING INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

CHALLENGES OF INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT OF HORSES - INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE

BERNARD VALLAT, DIRECTOR GENERAL, OIE

Challenges of International Movement of HorsesInternational Alliances

IFHA General Assembly and 47th International Conference,Paris, 7 October 2013

Bernard VallatDirector General, OIE Paris

Content Introduction International Alliances Perceived constraints to international horse

movement Issues specific to the racehorse industry The HHP proposal Conclusions

Introduction The mandate, scope and structure of the OIE The process of standard setting The obligations of OIE member countries The notifiable equine diseases

Black Caviar (AUS) – horse of the year 2013

INTRODUCTION

OIE MandateHistorical:

“To prevent animal diseases from spreading around the world”

The 5th Strategic Plan 2011/2015 extends the OIE’s global mandate to:

“Improve animal health, veterinary public health, animal welfare, and

consolidate the animal’s role worldwide” http://www.oie.int/en/about-us/director-ge

neral-office/strategic-plan/

CHRONOLOGY

Headquarters in Paris (France)

6 Regional Representations

6 Sub-Regional Representations

An intergovernmental organisation preceding the United Nations

Creation of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE)

World Organisation for Animal Health

Creation of the United Nations

1924 20031945

In 2013

178 Member Countries in 2013

Africa: 52 – Americas: 30 – Asia, the Far East and Oceania: 36

Europe: 53 – Middle East: 20Some countries belong to more than one Region

These representations closely collaborate with Regional Commissions and are directly under the

Director General’s authority

Regional and Sub-Regional Representations

Governance structure of the OIE

10

SCAD & TCCCommission)/

Consultant Editor

Authors (Experts)

Consultant Editor

Review by the TCC with the help of the editorial team

Assembly

DELEGATES&

other peer reviewers

Adoption of the Chapter

12

Inclusion on the next editionof the CODE/OIE website

General Process for developingChapter for the Terrestrial Code

Comments

Obligations of Member Countries In order to ensure transparency and enhance

knowledge of global animal health situation (incl. zoonoses),

Members shall submit information on animal disease situation (incl. zoonoses) in their territory - in the most timely and transparent way,

Using the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) coupled with the World Animal Health Information Database (WAHID) interface.

Categories of equine notifiable diseases “Official disease status” : FMD, CBPP, BSE, AHS, PPR, CSF “Self declaration” by the country: Dourine, EI, Glanders, VEE, Rabies, WNF “Follow recommendations for importation as given in respective

disease chapters in the Code”

African Horse Sickness ** Equine infectious anaemiaContagious equine metritis Equine influenza *Dourine * Equine piroplasmosisEquine encephalomyelitis Equine rhinopneumonitis(Western and Venezuelan *) Equine viral arteritisRabies * , WNF *, VS, JE and Anthrax Glanders *

** - Official disease status; * - Self declaration

INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE

International Alliance MoU between IFHA and OIE and FEI and OIE Grant provided by FEI to the OIE Engagement in Public-Private-Partnership to address movement

constraints: International movement of race and FEI horses within the EU

and between EU and selected approved third countries is already facilitated

Challenges exist in countries and regions not governed by these regulations

International Alliance addresses these challenges at global level

Perceived challenges to travel internationally Application of excessive, inconsistent sanitary regulations Differing approaches to quarantine, laboratory testing Lack of knowledge/skills/interest/low priority for Veterinary

Services No national regulations for temporary importation Race horses import follows permanent import regulations in

some important countries

Issues specific to the racehorse industry IFHA has a structure in place to provide a framework to

support the “high health status” horse conceptGuidelines to facilitate the temporary movement of registered

racehorses for international races

Racing circuit is well establishedUK –France – USA – Australia – Japan – Hong Kong – Singapore - Dubai

Wise Dan (USA)2nd world best

Black Caviar (AUS) world best

The HHP initiative might open up this closed circuitto other countries or regions, wishing to expand their racing industry

IFHA Annual Report 2011

OIE Standards and approaches

Proposal forThe

Facilitation of International Competition Horse Movements

Based on

OIE principles The OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code lists 11 equine

diseases and 5 multiple species diseasesMembers have reporting obligations!

Zoning, Disease Free Zones, and Compartmentalisation are defined in the Code

Animal identification and Traceability described in the Code

Global Model Health Certificates Quality of Veterinary Services and the PVS Framework

Compartmentalisation Compartmentalisation - the establishment and

maintenance of a sub-population of animals with a specified disease free statusBased on sound management and biosecurity measures

Conceptually could be applied to HHP horse movementsIf ID, traceability, management, biosecurity in place

If public-private partnership is endorsed

The High health «sub-population»“High health, high performance” (HHP) sub-population

Sport horses Other horses, Incl working horses

HHP sub-population complieswith these principles

Based on 4 pillars:1. High Health status: vaccinations, tests, quarantine, health

certification2. Performance and activities3. Identification and traceability4. Biosecurity(biosecurity Guidelines for HHP in view of compartmentalisation principle have been developed)

Formation of an OIE ad hoc Group on the International Movement for Equestrian Sport

AHG is examining definitions, standards, biosecurity, EDFZs, PVS Performance Indicators, Welfare during transport

And has developed a 3 years work program IFHA represented by Dr Anthony Kettle and

Dr Kenneth Lam

Operationalisation of the proposal

Expected outcomes Based on the OIE standards currently under development,

importing countries that are hosting international equestrian events or horse races are advised to: Develop temporary importation requirements Reduce the Pre-export quarantine period to a very minimum, or

not request at all Recognise the biosecurity level at the venue or race course to be

equivalent to Post-arrival quarantine if biosecurity measures are applied in line with OIE provisions

Establish EDFZ at the venue where necessary (as done successfully for Asian Games 2010)

Conclusions (1) Clear socio economic benefits can be gained from the

expanding HHP horse industries, also in “non-classical” countries/regions

There is a demand for OIE standards to support safe international movements of the HHP horse

The HHP sub-population is designed to participate in FEI international competitions and IFHA Group/ Graded races

HHP horses have high health status and sound management underpinnings

Conclusions (2)

Veterinary Services complying with OIE standards are essential to the implementation of OIE Standards and to provide credible certification

Regulatory services should work with industry organisations (e.g. IFHA and FEI) through Public-Private Partnerships

The development of OIE Standards for HHP horses is a logical progression from the current OIE general Standards

OIE Standards’ for HHP horses can be elaborated if based on science, the process is transparent and dialogue between public and private sector takes place

Thank you for your attention