World Assembly

The World Assembly of 183 Delegates is the highest authority of the World Organisation for Animal Health.
It comprises the Delegates of all Members and meets at least once a year. The General Session of the Assembly lasts five days and is held every year in May in Paris. Voting by Delegates within the Assembly respects the democratic principle of ‘one country, one vote’.

The World Assembly present at86th OIE General Session

The main functions of the Assembly are:

To adopt international standards

in the field of animal health, especially for international trade.

To adopt resolutions

on the control of the major animal diseases.

See resolutions

To elect the members

of the governing bodies of WOAH (President and Vice-President of the Assembly, members of the Council and of the Regional Commissions), as well as the members of the Specialist Commissions.

To appoint

the Director General of WOAH.

To examine and approve

the annual report of activities and the financial report of the Director General and the annual budget of the Organisation.

Annual General Session

During the General Session, two technical items of general interest are dealt by speakers chosen for their specialist knowledge, and the animal health situation worldwide is presented in summary form with additional information provided by each Member Country. Delegates have an opportunity to meet in their respective Regional Commissions to discuss problems of common interest.

The work of the World Assembly of Delegates is prepared by the Council, which consists of nine Delegates and meets under the chairmanship of the President of the Assembly each year, at least , in February and May.

woah-general-session-2023 logo

91st General Session

The 91st Annual General Session of the World Assembly of Delegates of the World Organisation for Animal Health took place on Sunday, 26 to Thursday, 30 May 2024, face-to-face in Paris.

During this important institutional event, the World Assembly adopted administrative and technical resolutions as well as proceeded to elections for vacancies in some of the governing bodies of the Organisation.

Find out more

Old General Sessions