New Office Aims to Strengthen Relationships

November 8, 2017 — 

Today, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) officially opened the OIE's U.S.-based liaison office in College Station, Texas. The office will be co-located with and hosted by the Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases (IIAD) - a member of The Texas A&M University System and an OIE Collaborating Centre in the specialty of biological threat reduction. [Source: IIAD Press Release, November 6, 2017]

As an intergovernmental organization responsible for improving animal health and welfare worldwide, the OIE oversees the regulation of international markets is recognized by the World Trade Organization the standard-setting body for animal health regulatory activities.

"The opening of a liaison office is a first for the organisation", explains Jean-Phillippe Dop, DVM, OIE Deputy Director General, who attended the official opening. "This new U.S.-based office will open additional lines of communication between the OIE and U.S. veterinary and public health parties - allowing for better collaboration when it comes to disaster preparedness, emergency planning and animal disease surveillance."

Traditionally, permanent official relations with the OIE Member Countries as well as international and regional organisations are maintained through the official National Delegate and the 12 Regional and Sub-Regional Representations, covering every continent. While the OIE Liaison office does not change any traditional communication channels, the office will provide new avenues for high-level engagement with U.S. government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private sector constituents. This strengthened relationship with US animal production stakeholders is expected to reinforce the understanding of the OIE international Standards at the national level, as well as an increased appreciation of the importance and challenges of global animal health transparency.

Designated as an OIE Collaborating Centre in 2014, IIAD provides its expertise internationally to support and implement animal health initiatives, provide scientific and technical training, and conduct scientific research focused on global animal health.