Office International des Epizooties

Headquarters in Paris, France.

Missions: To guarantee the transparency of animal disease status world-wide; To collect, analyse and disseminate veterinary scientific information; To provide expertise and promote international solidarity for the control of animal diseases; To guarantee the sanitary safety of world trade by developing sanitary rules for international trade in animals and animal products.

The organization was created following the rinderpest[?] epizootic in Belgium in 1920. the disease had originated in India and concern over the spread lead to a International Conference in Paris in March 1921. An agreement was signed on January 25, 1924 by 28 countries.

Official website (http://www.oie.int/eng/en_index.htm)