Prague, 1 November 1994

MVDr Jean B l a n c o u

Director General

Office International des Epizooties

12, Rue de Prony

75017 P a r i s XVII

F R A N C E

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Dear Dr Blancou,

this is to acknowledge with many thanks receipt of the documents on risk assessment which will help me in study of this problem.

I would like to exploit this opportunity and suggest to consider following proposals related to export/import policy:

In OIE International Animal Health Code:

a) To include principles for the reclamation solution in cases of the suspicion or discovery of relevant disease(s) among imported animals or their products as well as in cases of the discrepancy between the importing country veterinary conditions and exporting country certificates. The reclamation solution agreed in advance can save a lot of troubles in conflicting export/import situation. This should be the component of veterinary conditions for import.

b) The definition of "specific disease free country or part of the territory" status not to be used for the country or territory where the disease still exists (e.g. brucellosis).

In OIE World Animal Health Statistics:

To include in annual reporting of animal health/disease statistics the number of specifically investigated animals to inform about the size (proportion) of tested animals having the importance for the grade of knowledge about the disease presence, distribution or absence. This criterion is more important for export/import policy than the number of "treated animals" as reported today.

Best regards to you and all the staff of the OIE HQs !

Yours sincerely,

Prof.Dr Vaclav K o u b a , DrSc.

V.K.