International trade: rights and obligations of OIE Members

The OIE has published a new guide for OIE Members on their rights and obligations relating to the safety of international trade.

OIE Members will find the document useful as an attendant guide for dealing with trade disputes and as a quick reference guide on their rights and obligations as Members of the organisation with regards to the safety of international trade, in full compliance with the World Trade Organisation Agreement of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement).

The document is organised in two sections that respectively look into:

• rights and obligations of OIE Members with regard to the safety of international trade, linked with animal pathogens and disease risks;

• the informal OIE mediation procedure for resolving trade disputes between OIE Members

The guide is available on the OIE website under the Health standards section of the main menu or at the following web address:

http://www.oie.int/eng/normes/A_Right%20and%20obligations_March2009.pdf