PARIS — Canada will contribute C$2 million ($1.9 million) to support World Organization for Animal Health (O.I.E.) activities, Canada Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced on a visit to the O.I.E.

“The positive impact of animal-health policies on fair and safe trade but also on poverty reduction and public health is in itself ample justification for financing and maintaining animal health strategies and specific programs worldwide,” said Dr. Bernard Vallat, O.I.E. director general.


“Canada supports fair and safe international trade and we are in Paris to reaffirm our commitment to maximize global trade opportunities using science-based standards adopted by all O.I.E. members,” Mr. Ritz said.

The importance of science-based standards for the safe international movement of animals and their products, as well as the role O.I.E. plays in the context of global trade, public heath and poverty alleviation, were also discussed by Dr. Vallat, Mr. Ritz and Dr. Brian Evans, Canada’s delegate to the O.I.E.

The O.I.E. World Animal Health and Welfare Fund was established in 2004 for the purpose of projects of international public good relating to the control of animal diseases, including zoonoses through capacity-building investment. It allows for voluntary contributions to be directed to specific activities as defined with the donor.