The WOAH

WOAH Collaborating Centre

The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE)

The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) is the intergovernmental organization responsible for improving animal health worldwide. It includes approximately 180 member countries and maintains permanent relations with 45 other international and regional organizations. The WOAH headquarters is in Paris, France, and Regional Commissions are maintained in each region of the world. These Commissions work to strengthen surveillance, control animal diseases, and address problems specific to each region. The WOAH is recognized as a reference organization by the World Trade Organization (WTO). WOAH Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centers provide scientific and technical assistance, training and advice based on their expertise. 

IICAB’s work with the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH)

The IICAB became an WOAH Collaborating Centre for the Diagnosis of Animal Diseases and Vaccine Evaluation in the Americas in June 1998. This designation was shared with the USDA APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) and Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) until 2019. In 2019, the WOAH designated IICAB and the Center for Veterinary Biologics as an WOAH Collaborating Centre for Vaccine Evaluation in the Americas and the NVSL as an WOAH Collaborating Center for the Diagnosis of Animal Diseases in the Americas.

As a WOAH Collaborating Center, the IICAB provides scientific and technical assistance and expert advice upon request of the WOAH, works to propose or develop procedures to facilitate harmonization of international regulations, and develops training courses, workshops and scientific meetings on topics related to the WOAH mission.

Specific activities include:

Visit the WOAH website