. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/145/Add.2
6 November 2000
(00-4681)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English/
French/
Spanish
CONTINUED EXAMINATION OF DOCUMENT G/SPS/13
PROCEDURE TO MONITOR
THE PROCESS OF INTERNATIONAL HARMONIZATION
Communication from the Office International des Epizooties
Addendum
The following communication was received from the Office international des épizooties
(OIE) on 3 November 2000.
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1. The Bureau of the International Animal Health Code Commission of the Office International
des Epizooties (OIE) met at the OIE headquarters from 25 to 29 September 2000. During the meeting,
the Bureau continued its examination of matters concerning the OIE raised in the document entitled
"Procedure to Monitor the Process of International Harmonisation", reference number G/SPS/13.
A. CHICKEN MEAT AND INFECTIOUS BURSAL DISEASE
2. The Bureau examined the replies from three experts to questions posed by the Code
Commission on infectious bursal disease (IBD) virus and its possible transfer via chicken meat. The
replies confirmed that the IBD virus is highly resistant to heating and freezing, that there is a wide
variety of strains with varying degrees of virulence, that there are several forms of the disease
(ranging from immunosuppression to high mortality) and that there are different vaccinationstrategies.
3. It was evident that there remain significant gaps in the necessary scientific information to
develop specific recommendations for trade in chicken meat. The Bureau will request the Director
General to convene an Ad hoc Group to determine the key areas in which further research is required
before further development of the chapter is possible.
B. F
REQUENCY OF HEALTH CONTROLS TO BE CARRIED OUT ON BULLS AT ARTIFICIAL
INSEMINATION CENTRES
4. The Bureau of the Code Commission took note of the conclusions of the two meetings of
international specialists on reproduction held in Brussels (Belgium) in May 2000 and Stockholm
(Sweden) in July 2000, respectively. These meetings enabled the development of revised draftappendices relating to bulls and artificial insemination centres and the hygienic collection and
processing of bovine semen.G/SPS/GEN/145/Add.2
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5. These draft appendices will be submitted to the OIE Member Countries for comment. Any
comments received will be examined at the m eeting of the International Animal Health Code
Commission in January 2001.
C. CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN OF ANIMALS
6. Issue No. 2 of volume 20 of the OIE Scientific and Technical Review , which will deal with
the traceability of animals and animal products, is due to be published in August 2001. The
International Animal Health Code Commission intends to make use of the information published in
this issue to allow its deliberations on the certificati on of the origin of animals to go into the subject in
greater depth.
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