International Report By Stephen Woodgate World Renderers Engage with OIE President, World Renderers Organization One of the key objectives of the World Renderers Organization (WRO) presidency is to engage with international organizations with which WRO has a mutual agreement. Among the potential organizations of interest is the World Organization for Animal Health, or OIE, which stands out as one of the most important. OIE sets standards for raw materials, processing, and trade that impact WRO members. OIE has a very important international role in securing animal health and safety of animal products throughout the world. Most vitally, the decisions that OIE makes can affect renderers and their ability to do business and be profitable. Accordingly, this author met with Derek Belton at the OIE headquarters in Paris, France recently. Belton is from New Zealand and well versed in the OIE procedures, having served as a New Zealand delegate to OIE for over 10 years. He is now the head of OIE’s International Trade Department. A WRO/OIE memorandum of cooperation that began in July 2013 is a vital partnership agreement that entitles WRO to attend the OIE World Assembly and possibly make a presentation during one of the general sessions. WRO will receive an invitation to this year’s World Assembly in addition to other communications and updates from OIE. In accordance with the memorandum of cooperation, Belton confirmed that if OIE is made aware of an issue of relevance to WRO members (such as animal by-product processing or trade in animal by-products), then OIE will notify WRO for comment and action. Terrestrial Code Chapters The OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code chapters are very important and fundamental to global renderers, particularly with reference to international trade. They could be considered the “book of rules” for a wide range of animal diseases and animal-based commodities. The evolution and development of these chapters is an approximate two-year cycle that ends with a vote at the World Assembly in May every year. WRO could play a part if it wants to propose changes, but it should first decide what needs to be changed and why. WRO would then need to gain support from as many national delegates to OIE as possible and get the proposal entered into the system as a “request” to OIE (only via the director general). The director general will react according to his understanding of the issue and weight of support from national delegates. If enough delegate support is forthcoming, then the proposal takes an approximate two-year cycle through committees before coming to the World Assembly for voting. To illustrate the cycle of events, if WRO made a request by June 1, 2014 (and assuming it was successful at the first stage), it would not come up for a vote until May 2016. So, as a call to action for WRO members: Are there any aspects of A WRO/OIE memorandum of cooperation that began in July 2013 is a vital partnership agreement that entitles WRO to attend the OIE World Assembly and possibly make a presentation during one of the general sessions. the chapters in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code that WRO should try to edit or change? As an example, one country bans the import of product X from another country (both are members of OIE). The importing country appears not to agree that the exporting country is able to meet the importing country’s national standards, even though the exporting country is meeting the OIE standards set out in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code. In this event, what are the potential steps to resolve such a dispute, taking into account that the importing country has a sovereign right to refuse such imports? In practice, such a decision can be challenged, but only in terms of a trade dispute using the argument that the sanitary and phytosanitary agreement of the World Trade Organization is not being complied with. This is probably an unrealistic, timeconsuming, and expensive way of trying to find a solution for products that renderers deal with. Alternative steps were discussed with Belton that could also achieve a resolution to a dispute or disagreement between countries with potential trade. Ideally, this is where WRO members will see value from the memorandum of cooperation with OIE. • Ensure both parties’ chief veterinarians talk with each other and encourage the negotiation of an agreement. • Make WRO publications a basis for common ground agreement. • Get the “other side” to join WRO and, if possible, agree that WRO publications are a good basis for negotiation. • Develop one or more documents that specifically address the issue of “equivalence” in terms of processing (for a variety of commodities and different animal diseases, e.g., avian influenza, classic swine fever, and foot and mouth disease). Use the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code chapters as reference points and explain how WRO members are meeting the conditions. This new document should be complimentary to the two existing WRO hazard analysis and critical control point guideline documents. Contacts Belton strongly encouraged WRO members to get to know their OIE delegate. This is normally the national chief veterinarian, but could also be someone who is appointed as the OIE delegate. All country delegates are shown at the 54 April 2014 Render www.rendermagazine.com
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