The Office International de Epizooties (OIE, World Organisation for Animal Health) is an international intergovernmental organisation founded in 1924. In May 2001, the OIE had 158 member countries. Its headquarters in Paris, France.

The OIE's claimed missions are:

  • to guarantee the transparency of animal disease status world-wide
  • to collect, analyse and disseminate veterinary scientific information
  • to provide expertise and promote international solidarity for the control of animal diseases
  • to guarantee the sanitary safety of world trade by developing sanitary rules for international trade in animals and animal products.

The organization was created following the rinderpest epizootic in Belgium in 1920. The disease had originated in India and concern over the spread lead to a international conference in Paris in March 1921. An agreement was signed on January 25 1924 by 28 countries.

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