Veterinary products

Veterinary products are important tools in the prevention and control of animal diseases. The definition of veterinary products may vary from one country to another; for WOAH purposes, they include vaccines, veterinary medicines, such as antimicrobial agents, and diagnostic kits. To ensure effective and sustainable animal disease control while minimising risks to humans and animals, governments are expected to provide appropriate regulations on the authorisation, manufacturing, distribution and use of veterinary products through their veterinary legislation.

veterinary products ©World Organisation for Animal Health/T.Tumenbayar

In this context, WOAH develops for its Member Countries international standards, guidelines and recommendations for veterinary products. These reference documents can be found in the five following publications: Terrestrial Animal Health CodeAquatic Animal Health CodeManual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals and the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals.

WOAH also actively promotes activities related to harmonisation of veterinary legislation. As an associated member, WOAH supports the initiative for an International Cooperation on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products (VICH). Some specific collaborative activities and translated VICH Guidelines can be joined under VICH Outreach Forum.

WOAH also developed Practical Guidelines for National Procurement of Veterinary Vaccines to support its Members in the process of identifying and procuring quality assured veterinary vaccines. They also contribute to provide clear guidance on the information regarding the vaccines and the manufacturers required for the procurement process.

In parallel and in synergy with the development of international standards, guidelines and recommendations, WOAH provides a permanent support to Veterinary Services and laboratories to enable Members to implement them.

The work of the WOAH in the field of veterinary products is supported by three Collaborating Centres, which are world-leading institutes, and a Reference Laboratory on Antimicrobial Resistance.

Actions taken by Members are coordinated by the WOAH National Focal Points for veterinary products, who provide technical assistance to national Delegates in improving and harmonising national policies for veterinary products.

In May 2009, the World Assembly of Delegates adopted during the 77th General Session Resolution No. 25 on Veterinary products, which clearly recommends WOAH to strengthen its actions and to further develop a coherent strategy in this field. This position has since then been reflected in the Fifth Strategic Plan (2011–2015) of WOAH, which was adopted at the 78th WOAH General Session in May 2010 by this same Assembly.

Background

WOAH (founded as OIE) has been involved from the start in the formation of the International Cooperation on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products (VICH) and has been represented by its Collaborating Centre ANSES in all its Steering Committee Meetings.

As indicated in its 5th Strategic Plan, WOAH encourages the use of VICH Guidelines by its Member Countries and in order to facilitate this, engaged with VICH to support the process of setting up the VICH Forum in which non-VICH members countries and regions can participate and learn first-hand about the VICH process. The VICH Forum aims to provide a basis for wider international harmonisation of technical registration requirements necessary for the marketing authorisation (also called “registration”) of a veterinary medicinal product.

The VICH Forum was created during the 26th VICH Steering Committee meeting, held in Tokyo, Japan, in November 2011. A number of countries and regional organisations which meet the criteria laid down in the Terms of Reference for this Forum, have since then met for the inaugural Forum, held in Brussels in June 2012 and subsequent Forum meetings, which take place at the time of VICH Steering Committee meetings.

The key issues of interest to the non-VICH countries coming together in the Forum are to better understand and actively contribute to the VICH Guideline development process, to suggest topics for new Guidelines, to provide feedback on the acceptance of existing guidelines and to discuss practical issues related to VICH guidelines, to receive training in the application of the Guidelines and to collaborate and share translations of guidelines into other languages.

Current members of the Forum
Countries

Argentina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, People’s Republic of China, Egypt, India, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taipei, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Philippines, United Arab Emirates,
Uganda, Ukraine, Zambia, Zimbabwe (Observer: South Africa)

Regional organizations

ASEAN (representing Asia)

CAMEVET (representing the Americas)

CAPROVE

EAC (representing East African Community) 

SADC (representing South African Development Community) 

WAEMO/UEMOA (representing West Africa) 

The role of WOAH

WOAH and its Collaborating Centre ANSES facilitate the relation and communication between Forum members, the VICH Secretariat and the VICH members. Minutes of the Forum meetings and other documents of relevance for Forum member countries and WOAH Member Countries interested in joining the Forum can be found on this webpage.

Meetings of the VICH Forum

12th Forum Meeting – 38th Steering Committee
Tokyo (Japan), November 2019

Next meeting of the VICH Forum
  • 43rd VICH Steering Committee meeting, together with the 17th VF meeting, and 7th VICH public conference will be held in Amsterdam ( European Medicines Agency ) The Netherlands, from 10 to 15 November 2024. The public conference is open to all interested parties and will take place on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 .
Service to Forum members

A need has been identified by Forum members for VICH Guidelines to be translated into other languages. WOAH, in collaboration with other organisations, makes those Guidelines which are already translated, available on this website. It needs, however, to be noted that only the English version as found on the VICH website is considered original and binding.

These Guidelines can be found as pdf files hereunder.

Russian (translated byWOAH)

VICH GL 3
VICH GL 8


Spanish
 (translated by FDA see U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

VICH GL 3RVICH GL 29
VICH GL 9VICH GL 31
VICH GL 22VICH GL 32
VICH GL 23VICH GL 37
VICH GL 28


French (translated by Health Canada, Veterinary Drugs Directorate, in 2004 and as otherwise indicated)  

VICH GL 1VICH GL 12VICH GL 21
VICH GL 2VICH GL 13VICH GL 22R
VICH GL 3VICH GL 14VICH GL 23
VICH GL 4VICH GL 15VICH GL 28 (2005)
VICH GL 5VICH GL 16VICH GL 31R
VICH GL 7VICH GL 17VICH GL 32R
VICH GL 8VICH GL 18VICH GL 33R
VICH GL 10VICH GL 19VICH GL 36 (2007)
VICH GL 11VICH GL 20VICH GL 37

Diagnostic tests are essential tools for confirming the health status of animals and identifying pathogens. They enable the early detection, management and control of animal diseases including zoonosis and facilitate the safe trade in animals and animal products.

WOAH works actively on veterinary products, including diagnostic tests, and has developed a coherent strategy for its activities in this area.

WOAH standards that apply to diagnostic tests are published in the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals (Terrestrial Manual) and in the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (Aquatic Manual).

In the introductory chapters of both Manuals, topics such as the collection, shipment and storage of diagnostic specimens, the quality management in veterinary laboratories, or the principles of validation of diagnostic tests are addressed.

For all listed diseases as well as several other diseases of importance, the two Manuals specify and detail the internationally agreed upon diagnostic test methods.

These standards, guidelines and recommendations are regularly updated to take account of the latest scientific findings and technological developments.

WOAH’s work is guided by the Biological Standards Commission and the Aquatic Animal Health Commission in their respective areas of competence and supported by several Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres. WOAH-approved International Standard Sera have been developed by Reference Laboratories for certain diseases.

WOAH-approved International Standard Reagents

The Biological Standards Commission coordinates a programme for the preparation, validation and distribution of WOAH-approved International Standard Reagents for diagnostic assays for infectious diseases of animals. The standards are prepared using this template by a Reference Laboratory in accordance with Guidelines for antibody, antigen and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) standards drawn-up by the Commission in collaboration with other laboratories. Such standard preparations are designated by the WOAH as primary reference standards for use in conjunction with tests described in the WOAH Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals (mammals, birds and bees). The aim of the programme is to harmonise diagnostic testing and encourage the mutual recognition of test results for international trade.


Currently available WOAH-approved International Standard Reagents
 

DiseaseTestAvailable from
African horse sicknessEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assayMarisa Arias
Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal
Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentarie (CISA-INIA)
28130 Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
Tel: (34-91) 620.23.00
[email protected] 
Aujeszky’s diseaseEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay;
Virus neutralisation
Dr Marie-Frédérique Le Potier
Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail (Anses)
Laboratoire de Ploufragan/Plouzané/Niort
Unité de Virologie Immunologie Porcines
B.P. 53, 22440 Ploufragan/Plouzané/Niort
France
Tel: +33 (0)2 96 01 62 90
[email protected]
BluetongueEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay;
Agar gel immunodiffusion
To be decided
National Veterinary Services Laboratories
USDA, Veterinary Services
P.O. Box 844, Ames
Iowa 50010, United States of America
Tel: (1-515) 337.75.51
[email protected]
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/lab-info-services/sa_reagents/ct_reagents
Bovine brucellosisIndirect and Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Complement fixation; Agglutination; Buffered Brucella antigen tests; Fluorescence polarisation assayDr Adrian Whatmore
Animal and Plant Health Agency
New Haw, Addlestone
Surrey KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
Tel: (+44-1932) 35.76.10
[email protected]
Brucella abortusComplement fixation; Agglutination; Buffered Brucella antigen tests; Fluorescence polarisation assay; Indirect and Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assayDr Adrian Whatmore
(as above)
Brucella ovisComplement fixationDr Adrian Whatmore
(as above)
Classical swine feverVirus neutralisationDr Helen Crooke
Animal and Plant Health Agency
New Haw, Addlestone
Surrey KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
Tel: (44-208) 026 9665
[email protected]
Contagious bovine pleuropneumoniaBoth irradiated and non-irradiated sera are available. Please contact the Reference Laboratory for advice on their suitability for different types of serological test (complement fixation test, indirect or competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay)Dr Massimo Scacchia
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’
Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy
Tel: (39-0861) 33.24.05
[email protected] 
Contagious bovine pleuropneumoniaComplement fixation testDr Ana Rosa Pombo Botelho
Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV, IP)
Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês

s/n, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
Tel: +351-21 440 35 14
[email protected]
Enzootic bovine leukosisAgar gel immunodiffusion;
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
Prof. Thomas Vahlenkamp
Institute of Virology
Centre for Infectious Diseases
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 29
04103 Leipzig, Germany
Tel: (49-341) 97.38.201
[email protected]
Equine infectious anaemiaAgar gel immunodiffusionDr Stephan Zientara
UMR Virologie Anses/INRA/ENVA
23 avenue du Général de Gaulle
94703 Maison-Alfort, France
Tel: 33 (0)1 43.96.72.82
[email protected]
[email protected]
Equine influenzaHaemagglutination inhibition; single radial haemolysisDr Marie-Emmanuelle Behr-Gross
European Directorate for the
Quality of Medicines, Council of Europe
7 allée Kastner, F-67081 Strasbourg
Cédex, France
Tel: 33 (0)3 90.21.41.08
[email protected]
Equine influenzaAntigens and antisera for
in-vitro
 standardisation of vaccines
NIBSC (National Institute for Biological Standards and Control)
P.O. Box 1193, Blanche Lane
South Mimms, Potters Bar
Hertfordshire EN6 3QH
United Kingdom
Tel: (+44-1707) 64.14.67
[email protected]
Equine viral arteritisVirus neutralisationDr Peter J. Timoney
Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center
Department of Veterinary Science
University of Kentucky, Lexington
Kentucky 40546-0099
United States of America
Tel: (1-859) 47 57 ext. 81094
[email protected]
Foot and mouth diseaseEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (antigen and antibody detection);
Virus neutralisation
Dr Donald King
The Pirbright Institute
Ash Road, Pirbright
Woking, Surrey
GU24 0NF, United Kingdom
Tel: (44-1483) 23.24.41
[email protected]
Foot and mouth diseaseNonstructural protein testsDr Edviges Maristela Pituco
Centro Panamericano de Fiebre Aftosa OPS/OMS
Av. President Kennedy 7778, Sao Bento
Duque de Caxias, ZC 25040-004
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Tel: (55-21) 36.61.90.64
[email protected]
Infectious bovine rhinotracheitisVirus neutralisation;
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
Dr Stephen Valas
Laboratoire de Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort
Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail (Anses)

60 rue Pied de Fond, CS 28440
79024 Niort Cedex, France
Tel: 33 (0)5 49.79.61.28

[email protected]
Ovine and caprine brucellosis (anti-Brucella melitensis[ISaBmS])Indirect and Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Fluorescence polarisation assay; Buffered Brucella antigen testsDr Adrian Whatmore
(as above)
Peste des petits ruminantsEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assayDr Arnaud Bataille
CIRAD-Bios, Campus international de Baillarguet
TA A-15/G, B.P. 5035, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 15, France
Tel: 33 (0)4 67 59 37 98
[email protected]
RabiesFluorescent antibody virus neutralisationDr Florence Cliquet
Anses Nancy, Laboratorie de la rage et de la faune sauvage
Technopôle Agricole et Vétérinaire
Bâtiment H, CS 40009, 54220 Malzéville, France
Tel: 33 (0)3 83.29.89.50
[email protected]
Swine vesicular diseaseEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (antibody detection);Virus neutralisationDr Donald King
The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road,
Pirbright, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NF, United Kingdom
Tel: (44-1483) 23.24.41
[email protected]
TrichinellosisEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assayDr Maria Angeles Gomez Morales
Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Laboratorio di Parassitologia
Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
Tel: +390-6 49.90.23.04
[email protected]

The term ‘International Standard Reagent’ is synonymous with primary standard. It represents the standard by which all others (secondary standards) are compared and calibrated. Secondary standards may represent national standards or working standards that are in routine use at the diagnostic laboratory level. The secondary standard and not the International Standard are to be used on a daily basis to standardise testing. The International Standard Reagents listed above may be obtained, in small quantities, at the corresponding address. Some laboratories may make a charge for this service.

Should you contact one of these Reference Laboratories to obtain reference materials and get no response, please inform the Scientific Department.

Contact

Legal Basis

During the 71st General Session of the WOAH in May 2003, the International Committee adopted Resolution No. XXIX. This Resolution endorses the principle of validation and certification of diagnostic assays (test methods) for infectious animal diseases by the WOAH and gives a mandate to the Director General of the WOAH to set up the specific standard procedures to be used before the final decision on the validation and certification of the diagnostic assay is taken by the WOAH International Committee.

The Resolution establishes that ‘fitness for purpose’ should be used as a criterion for validation.

The concept of ‘fitness for purpose’ indicates the purpose of the test, e.g.:

1. To demonstrate population ‘freedom’ from infection (prevalence apparently zero)
     a) ‘free’ with and/or without vaccination,
     b) historical ‘freedom’,
     c) re-establishment of ‘freedom’ following outbreaks;

2. To demonstrate freedom from infection or agent in individual animals or products for trade purposes;

3. To demonstrate efficiency of eradication policies;

4. To confirm diagnosis of clinical cases;

5. To estimate prevalence of infection to facilitate risk analysis (surveys, classification of herd health status, implementation of disease control measures);

6. To determine immune status in individual animals or populations (post-vaccination).

The Resolution states that the Director General of the WOAH should make provisions to establish a registry of assays with levels of validation specified. He is given the mandate to review the procedures involved in the timely approval of assays and is authorised to recover, if necessary, any costs incurred in the process of validation, certification and registry of such assays.

Resolution No. XXIX establishes that WOAH Reference Laboratories should be intimately involved with the validation procedures and that they should establish serum/sample reference collections to be used for validation in line with their mandates.


Purpose and relevance of the Procedure and of the Register

The aim of the WOAH procedure for registration of diagnostic kits is to produce a register of recognised diagnostic kits for WOAH Member Countries and for kit manufacturers.

WOAH Member Countries need diagnostic kits that are known to be validated according to WOAH criteria in order to improve the quality of kits, to ensure that the kits can be used to correctly establish animal disease status and to enhance confidence in kits.

This process of producing a register of recognised diagnostic kits will provide greater transparency and clarity of the validation process.

It will also provide means for recognising those manufacturers that produce validated and certified test methods in kit format.

In order to render the process transparent, all results of this registration procedure by the WOAH will be included in detailed form on the WOAH web site.


Policy on Transparency, Confidentiality and Disclosure of information

WOAH faces potentially conflicting obligations of ensuring public access to information (transparency) and safeguarding confidentiality of information that WOAH holds in its role as international regulatory organisation (see also WOAH Policy on the Protection of Legitimate Confidentiality available on WOAH website at: https://www.woah.org/en/about-us/key-texts/experts-obligations/).

1. Duty of confidentiality

Within the framework of the WOAH Procedure for Registration of Diagnostic Kits, the respect of confidentiality is an essential part of maintaining a good relationship and balance between the WOAH, industry and other parties. The WOAH recognises that its staff, the Biological Standards Commission (BSC) and the Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission (AAHSC) members, and reviewers may have access to confidential information related to intellectual property or of commercial concern. For this reason, they are all required to sign a confidentiality undertaking with the obligation to respect confidentiality of information in all circumstances and even after their current assignments/contract.

WOAH staff members are subject to a general duty of confidentiality under the Staff Regulations. The attention of new members of staff is drawn to the relevant provisions contained in the Staff Regulations. They acknowledge in writing that they have read and understood the relevant articles on the confidentiality provisions in the Staff Regulations and the related disciplinary measures. Staff members are required to repeat this acknowledgement on renewal of contract.

WOAH staff and other individuals involved in the WOAH Procedure for Registration of Diagnostic Kits are advised to exercise care when answering questions so as not to supply information to competitors or other interested parties regarding specific products where such information does not belong to the public domain. Discretion should be exercised within or outside the WOAH.

Where there is doubt about the management of information, WOAH staff members and other individuals involved in the WOAH Procedure for Registration of Diagnostic Kits seek guidance from the Director General of the WOAH.

2. Continuing duty of confidentiality

Members of the WOAH Specialist Commissions, reviewers and staff have a life-long duty of confidentiality even after they have ceased their relationship with the WOAH.

Form 1: Confidentiality Undertaking for the Expert Advisers 

Form 2: Confidentiality Undertaking for the staff of the WOAH, and the Biological Standards Commission and Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission members

Procedure for submission
Download application form
The register of diagnostic kits certified by the WOAH

NOTICE:

After more than 20 years of existence, in concertation with the Director General, the endorsement of the relevant Specialist Commissions and having informed both WOAH’s Council and the World Assembly of Delegates during the 91st General Session (May 26-30, 2024), please be informed that WOAH’s Diagnostic Register activities have been suspended until May 2026. This means:

  • There will be no review or validation of new applications;
  • All validated and approved kits will maintain their certification;
  • No renewal processing will be engaged, even if they reach the five-year due date;
  • There will be no review of any potential appeal procedure.

Please also be informed that WOAH will still consider exceptional cases, linked to an emergency animal health situation, upon request of our Members.

This decision will enable WOAH’s Secretariat to optimise the use of the limited resources allocated to the Register, to focus on exploring mechanisms that could be implemented for facilitating regulatory harmonisation of diagnostic kits, as well as the value of setting minimum criteria needed for reliable registration of diagnostic kits, facilitating accessibility to Members, regardless of their regulatory capacity, streamlining kit recognition procedures and aligning WOAH Reference Centres with registration of diagnostic kits.

WOAH’s Secretariat remains at your disposal should you have any question or query ([email protected]).

Contact

Secretariat for Registration of Diagnostic Kits

[email protected]

Antimicrobial Resistance and Veterinary Products Department
12 rue de Prony, 75017 Paris
FRANCE
Teléfono: 33 (0)1 44 15 19 14, Fax: 33 (0)1 42 67 09 87