The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has recently launched a new project, the OIE Observatory, to strengthen the implementation of OIE International Standards by Member Countries. The OIE Observatory is an ambitious project still at the concept level and with a multi-phased approach. OIE is currently collaborating with The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to develop the design of the Observatory. The project has a Reference Group, in which the Codex Secretariat participates. At the OIE 87th General Session held 26-31 May 2019 in Paris, France, a side-event on the OIE Observatory, with more than 150 participants, was held.

Monique Eloit, Director General, OIE said, “Collecting and analyzing data related to the use of OIE Standards can help understand how standards are implemented and how countries can be better assisted”.

Chairperson of CCGP, Jean-Luc Angot, Hilde Kruse, Codex Secretariat and Codex Chairperson, Guilherme da Costa at the OIE 87th General Session

The OIE Observatory process is very relevant to Codex, which has also started discussing the need for better understanding of how Codex Standards are being implemented and how this can be measured. The issue was briefly discussed at the Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP) in March 2019 and France, supported by other interested countries, will prepare a discussion paper on monitoring the use of Codex standards for the next session of the committee due to take place in March 2020. The issue is also being addressed in the draft Codex Strategic Plan 2020-2025.

Guilherme da Costa, Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission said, “OIE and Codex, as international standard-setting organizations, have a lot in common, and the OIE Observatory project can provide useful insight to Codex in regard to how to measure the implementation of standards”.

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OIE Observatory