Abstracts Recommendations


FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS

CONSIDERING THAT

The global network of 227 OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres constitutes the central core of the OIE's scientific excellence;

The OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres support the OIE to fulfil its mandate to set science-based international standards, guidelines and recommendations in animal health and welfare;

The network of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres provides the international community with authoritative scientific opinions and advice on topics related to animal health and welfare including animal production food safety, and plays a key role in improving knowledge of disease(s), standardising diagnostic protocols and reagents, organising proficiency testing, facilitating exchange of reference material and others ;

One of the OIE's main objectives is to ensure transparency in and knowledge of the world animal health situation by the exchange and sharing of information with OIE Members through the OIE World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS), and the OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres play an essential role in enhancing transparency and information;

The International Committee of the OIE adopted, during the 70th General Session, Resolution No. XXI that identified The Role of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres in Capacity Building for Developing Countries;

The International Committee of the OIE adopted, during the 72nd General Session, Resolution No. XXVIII proposing changes to the Mandate of the OIE Reference Laboratories whereby OIE Reference Laboratories inform immediately the Delegate of the OIE Member concerned and the OIE Headquarters, of positive results obtained for diseases that are reportable to the OIE. Prior to publishing these results and if the biological sample is provided by a country other than that in which the Reference Laboratory is located, the OIE needs the agreement of the Delegate concerned and a precise identification of the origin of the sample;

The OIE organised the First International Conference of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, in Florianopolis, Brazil, in 2006 and adopted recommendations;

The OIE Laboratory Twinning Programme, launched in 2006, creates opportunities for developing and in-transition countries to develop laboratory diagnostic methods based on the OIE Standards with the eventual aim of creating more OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres in geographic areas that are currently under-represented, while reinforcing the veterinary scientific community in developing countries;

There is a need to strengthen cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and expertise within the international, regional and national networks of laboratories and to increase access to and use of this knowledge by all OIE Members;

Safe and efficient transport of the animal test samples, especially by air, is essential for the rapid diagnosis of disease in the early stage of an outbreak with the aim of containing its spread and limiting adverse health consequences to animals and humans (e.g. those associated with zoonoses) and any major economic impact worldwide;

There is a strong commitment among FAO, OIE and WHO to enhance collaboration, share responsibilities and coordinate global activities to address health risks at the animal-human-ecosystems interfaces;

THE SECOND GLOBAL CONFERENCE OF OIE REFERENCE LABORATORIES AND COLLABORATING CENTRES

RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING:

  1. The OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, as part of their mandate, will continue to comply with and promote the application of OIE Standards, and provide services to the OIE Members.

  2. The OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres will make every effort to share scientific knowledge and skills with other laboratories and centres, especially those in developing and in-transition countries, and provide relevant training in the development and use of rapid, robust and affordable diagnostic tests and vaccines to assist in the improvement of disease control programmes.

  3. The OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres will take initiatives and seek opportunities, where possible, to enter into twinning agreements with candidate laboratories in developing and in-transition countries.

  4. The OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, where appropriate, will work in collaboration with the FAO and the WHO Reference/Collaborating Centres and those from relevant regional and national organisations on topics of common interest, especially to further application of the “One Health” concept.

  5. Networks of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres will work together to strengthen multilateral cooperation with the aim of producing and increasing availability of validated reference materials.

  6. In order to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation the OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres will continue to exchange knowledge, reference materials and expertise, and increase worldwide access to and use of this knowledge for the benefit of OIE Members.

  7. The OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres will systematically notify their positive laboratory diagnostic results to the Delegates of the countries concerned and to the OIE Headquarters to assure the transparency in the animal disease situation worldwide. A detailed procedure should be developed to protect the rights of a country submitting samples to an OIE Reference Laboratory in accordance with Resolution No. XXVIII adopted in 2004.

  8. A formal procedure for establishing and managing efficient and sustainable networks of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres should be developed with the objectives of exchanging data, information and reference and diagnostic materials, fostering development and validation of reliable diagnostic tests and improving disease surveillance and control worldwide.

  9. The OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres will contribute to the setting and uniform application of OIE standards, guidelines and recommendations and share this knowledge and expertise with other laboratories to improve harmonisation and compliance with them in order to build greater global confidence in test results.

  10. The OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres develop and implement, where appropriate, a multi-year strategic plan, including training of personnel and upgrading of facilities, so as to continue to operate as world-class centres of excellence.
  11. Relevant organisations and stakeholders will continue to work together to facilitate logistics and improve conditions for the shipment of infectious animal substances.

  12. The Director General of the OIE will remind the OIE Member Countries of their financial obligations to OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres so as to ensure sustainability of the activities of the OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres to the benefit of OIE Members. In addition, the OIE will seek supplementary resources to assist OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres in addressing priority pilot issues.

  13. The Director General of the OIE takes initiatives to regularly update the mandate of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres.

  14. The Director General of the OIE creates the opportunity to host a follow-up Conference in 2014 for OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres and other interested partners.

  15. The Director General of the OIE encourages OIE Member Countries to consider, when evaluating laboratories, to include an evaluation of activities as an OIE Reference Laboratory so as to officially recognise these activities.

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