The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is an intergovernmental organization coordinating, supporting and promoting animal disease control.
The main objective of the OIE is to control epizootic diseases and thus to prevent their spread.
Other objectives consist of: transparency, scientific information, international solidarity, sanitary safety, the promotion of Veterinary Services, food safety and animal welfare.
It is recognized as a reference organisation by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in 2014 had a total of 181 member states.
