The Global Alliance of Pet Food Associations (GAPFA) congratulates the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) for its continued efforts to provide standards for the improvement of animal health and welfare, and veterinary public health worldwide. As highlighted by the OIE, these standards should be used by Veterinary Services to set up measures for the early detection, reporting and control of pathogenic agents, including zoonotic agents, and preventing their spread. Implementation of the recommendations in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code (Terrestrial Code) ensures the safety of international trade in animals and animal products, while avoiding unjustified sanitary barriers.
GAPFA welcomes the publication of the 2021 edition of the OIE Terrestrial Code with new and amended texts that were adopted by the World Assembly of Delegates of the OIE the at the 88th OIE General Session in May 2021. GAPFA fully supports OIE’s efforts to put in place recommendations that support virus inactivation that reflect recent scientific data, thereby facilitating safe international trade and is grateful for the opportunity to have been able to contribute to the revision of Chapter 10.4. Infection with high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses by providing the necessary scientific data related to standardised industrial processes.
GAPFA members are pleased that GAPFA’s input has been considered under Article 10.4.2. Safe commodities of Chapter 10.4. which states that when authorising importation or transit of a number of commodities, including extruded dry pet food and coated ingredients after extrusion, Veterinary Authorities should not require any conditions related to high pathogenicity avian influenza, regardless of the high pathogenicity avian influenza status of the exporting country or zone.
In 2017 GAPFA has established a Memorandum of Understanding with the OIE and currently GAPFA continues its engagement with the OIE on activities of mutual interest, including the field of international standards and recommendations relevant to pet food.