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Home > Animal health in the World > Self-declared disease status
Self-declaration
Self-declaration regarding the disease status of a country or zone.
In the case of self-declaration, the OIE Delegates are advised to consult the Terrestrial Animal Health Code or the Aquatic Animal Health Code to verify whether specific requirements for self-declaration of freedom from that particular disease are available. By providing the relevant epidemiological evidence, the OIE Member Country can prove to a potential importing country that the entire country or a zone under discussion, meet the provisions of the specific disease chapter. Any self-declaration should be based on sound evidence demonstrating that the requirements for the disease status have been met in accordance with the OIE standards.
The self-declaration, signed by the OIE Delegate of the OIE Member Country concerned, is submitted to the OIE Headquarters (self-declaration@oie.int) with the data that conform to the requirements in the relevant Chapters of the Terrestrial or Aquatic Codes, as appropriate. Upon request of the OIE Delegate, a self-declaration may be published entirely or summarized in the OIE Bulletin for information of all OIE Member Countries. All self-declarations published by the OIE can be viewed by browsing the OIE Bulletins online.
Self-declaration is made under the full responsibility of the Member Country concerned. The OIE is not responsible for inaccuracies in self-declarations concerning the status of a country or a zone nor for subsequent changes in the status.
Self-declaration regarding the freedom of a compartment from an OIE-Listed disease
Establishing and maintaining a disease free status throughout the country should be the final goal for OIE Member Countries. However, given the difficulty in doing so for an entire territory, especially for highly contagious diseases, there may be benefits to a Member Country in establishing and maintaining compartments for the purpose of disease control and/or international trade.
Compartmentalisation is a procedure implemented by a Member Country with a view to defining subpopulations of distinct health status within its territory primarily through management and husbandry practices related to biosecurity. Implementing compartmentalisation requires full compliance with the standards on compartmentalisation in the Terrestrial Code (Chapters 4.3 and 4.4.) and the Aquatic Code (Chapters 4.1. and 4.2.) for diseases of terrestrial and aquatic animals respectively; in addition to those in the specific disease chapter(s) relevant to the compartment.
The national Veterinary Authority is the final authority in granting, suspending and revoking the status of a compartment. In the situation where a compartment is being established to facilitate international trade, it is preferable for trading partners to reach agreement (based on the procedures in the Terrestrial or Aquatic Code) prior to a disease outbreak.
As stated in the Terrestrial Code Article 4.4.8. and in the Aquatic Code Article 4.2.8.: “The Veterinary Authority should ensure that all the information is readily accessible to the importing countries”, the OIE provides information on compartments, upon request of Member Countries.
Implementation and evaluation must be done in accordance with the principles defined in the Codes. The Member Country must demonstrate that the compartmentalisation is supported by a robust and clear biosecurity plan, and it was developed in close partnership between the Veterinary Authority and the relevant private sector involved.
Upon request of the OIE Delegate, the URL link to a document or a website for the self-declaration of a Member Country’s compartment (including contact details) may be published in the OIE Bulletin or on the OIE website.
Self-declaration of a compartment, as is the case for a country or zone, is made under the full responsibility of the Member Country concerned. The OIE is not responsible for inaccuracies in self-declarations concerning a compartment, for the absence of information allowing for verification that the compartment meets the OIE standards, nor for the maintenance of the status of the compartment. In addition, the OIE does not take responsibility for the content of publications or websites at the quoted URL link, which could be updated or modified at any time without the OIE’s knowledge. This is the full responsibility of the concerned Member Country and all enquiries should be directed to the contact provided by the Member Country.