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OIE’s role in smallholder livestock production in the SADC region
Conference on Policies for Competitive Smallholder Livestock Production
Gaborone, Botswana, 4-6 March 2015
M. Letshwenyo
OIE Sub-Regional Representation for Southern Africa, Gaborone, Botswana

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Presentation Layout
• Background Information
• OIE Mandate
• Objectives of the OIE
• OIE Standards
• Benefits to Farmers
• Conclusion

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Background Information
• Formed in 1924 as the Office International des
Epizooties (OIE)
• In 2003 became the World Organisation for Animal
Health
• Responsible for Animal Health, Welfare and
Veterinary Public Health
• Currently 180 member countries (represented by their
Directors of Veterinary Services)
• Operates through a network of more than 200
Regional/Sub-Regional Offices & Reference
Laboratories

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Background Information
• For Africa Region, there are 4 sub-regions
• West Africa (Bamako, Mali)
• Southern Africa (Gaborone, Botswana)
• East and Horn of Africa (Nairobi, Kenya)
• North Africa (Tunis, Tunisia)
• Implement OIE Mandate at sub-regional level
• Assist Veterinary Services of Sub-regions with
compliance to OIE international standards

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Background Information on
Small holder Livestock Production
• Definition: refers to farmers who keep small
numbers of animals as a single or multi-species
(synonymous with traditional farming)
• In most African countries they are the majority
(~80%) compared to ~20% commercial
• Comprises the widest diversity of;
• producers (men, women, youth, etc.)
• livestock species (cattle, sheep, goats, chicken, etc.)
• Vulnerable to poor economic performance of
countries

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Background Information on
Small holder Livestock Production
• Importance of livestock
- Food (meat & milk) - Draught power
- Bartering - Manure
- Sign of wealth - Ceremonial events
- Source of raw material for industry (e.g. hides/skins)
• All contingent on animals & products being free
from diseases, safe for human consumption and
animals treated humanely
• The consumer is particular about these three –
direct bearing on access to market

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Background Information on
Small holder Livestock Production
• To assist small holder livestock producers to be
competitive in the livestock industry, these must
be addressed
• Addressing these is complex, difficult and costly –
hence it is a public good
• The OIE support all farmers, through their
member countries to produce livestock.

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OIE Mandate
• the improvement of animal health,
veterinary public health and animal welfare
world-wide: i.e. OIE Mandate = Animal
health + Veterinary Public health + Animal
welfare
• Set objectives to guide the mandate
• Mandate implemented through Standards

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1. Transparency: Ensure
transparency in reporting
the global animal disease
situation
2. Scientific information:
Collect, analyse and
disseminate veterinary
scientific information
3. International solidarity:
Encourage international
solidarity in the control of
animal diseases
Objectives of the OIE
4. Sanitary safety: Safeguard
world trade by publishing
health standards for inter-
national trade in animals
and animal products
5. Promotion of veterinary
services: Improve the legal
framework and resources
of national Vet. Services
6. Food safety and animal
welfare: To provide a better
guarantee of food of ani-
mal origin and to promote
animal welfare through a
science-based approach

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OIE Standards
• Set of agreed rules, which are objective, fair and
based on science.
• based on most recent scientific and technical
information.
• used by MC to protect themselves from the
introduction of diseases and pathogens, without
setting up unjustified sanitary barriers.
• made by the OIE Scientific Commissions (experts)
world wide, and adopted by the OIE World
Assembly of Delegates (Directors of Veterinary

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OIE Standards
• Any MC can initiate a new standard (s) or its
review, through their OIE Delegate (Director of
VS)
• All MC are treated equally – they contribute and
if necessary vote for on a 1 country 1 vote system,
therefore standards are fair (no bias)

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OIE Standards
• Standards are found in the;
• Terrestrial Animal Health Code
• Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial
Animals
• Aquatic Animal Health Code
• Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals.

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OIE Standards

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International Standard-Setting Organizations
(3-sisters)
food safety
CODEX
plant health
IPPC
animal health/zoonoses
OIE
OIE Standards
SPS Agreement
The OIE is recognised internationally, including by the World Trade Organisation
(WTO), Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement as the International
Standard setting body for Animal health, Welfare and Veterinary Public
Health (Zoonosis)

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OIE Standards – Animal Health

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OIE Standards – Animal Health

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OIE Standards - Animal welfare
Section Animal welfare
Chapter 7.1. Introduction to the recommendations for animal welfare
Chapter 7.2. Transport of animals by sea
Chapter 7.3. Transport of animals by land
Chapter 7.4. Transport of animals by air
Chapter 7.5. Slaughter of animals
Chapter 7.6.
Killing of animals for disease control purposes
Chapter 7.7. Stray dog population control
Chapter 7.8.
Use of animals in research and education
Chapter 7.9.
Animal welfare and beef cattle production systems
Chapter 7.10.
Animal welfare and broiler chicken production systems

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OIE Standards- Veterinary Public Health
Chapter 6.1. The role of the Veterinary Services in food safety
Chapter 6.2.
Control of biological hazards of animal health and public health importance through
ante- and post-mortem meat inspection
Chapter 6.3.
The control of hazards of animal health and public health importance in animal feed
Chapter 6.4. Biosecurity procedures in poultry production
Chapter 6.5. Prevention, detection and control of Salmonella in poultry
Chapter 6.6. Introduction to the recommendations for controlling antimicrobial resistance
Chapter 6.7. Harmonisation of national antimicrobial resistance surveillance and monitoring
programmes
Chapter 6.8. Monitoring of the quantities and usage patterns of antimicrobial agents used in food-
producing animals
Chapter 6.9.
Responsible and prudent use of antimicrobial agents in veterinary medicine
Chapter 6.10. Risk analysis for antimicrobial resistance arising from the use of antimicrobials in
animals
Chapter 6.11. Zoonoses transmissible from non-human primates

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Benefit of OIE standards
• Major TADs controlled or eradicated
(Rinderpest)
• Disease free areas (countries or zones within
countries)
• Enhanced value of animals
• Improved Market Access (Trade facilitation)
• Benefit to farmer

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Benefit of OIE standards
• Production of safe commodities (animal
products)
• Enhanced value of commodities
• Improved Market Access (Trade
facilitation)
• Benefit to farmer

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Benefit of OIE standards
• Humane treatment (handling) of
animals
• Reduction of unnecessary suffering to
animals
• Improved Market Acceptability
(Trade facilitation)
• Benefit to farmer

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Conclusion
• OIE standards help veterinary authorities and
farmers to control animal diseases; this in turn
improves the value of animals and their access to
national, regional and global markets – i.e.
improves the competitiveness of livestock and
their products.
• Farmers need to familiarize themselves more with
OIE standards and produce accordingly.
• Standards keep improving as the market place
develops according to consumer preferences –
producers need to keep up.

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Thank you for your attention!
Thank you for
your attention