**RACING SOUTH AFRICA PRESS RELEASE** AHS Code Adopted

**RACING SOUTH AFRICA PRESS RELEASE**

2008 OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) AHS Code Chapter & Surveillance Guidelines

The 76th Annual General Session of the International Committee of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) from 25 to 30 May 2008 saw the adoption of a revised Code Chapter and Surveillance Guidelines for African Horse Sickness (AHS).

This revision to the OIE’s AHS Code is the first since 1990. The OIE formed an Ad Hoc Working Group to draft a revised Code Chapter and Surveillance Guidelines in November 2006. South Africa was fortunate to have two Veterinarians invited to serve on the Working Group in the form of Prof Alan Guthrie, Director of the Equine Research Centre at the University of Pretoria, and Dr Gary Buhrmann, Chief State Veterinary Officer, Western Cape. These documents followed the OIE’s standard review procedure which resulted in the Code’s adoption in Paris at the end of May 2008.

The new Code Chapter and Surveillance Guidelines provide a new framework for the South African Veterinary Authority to negotiate protocols for the export of horses to its trading partners.

The Import Export Working Group has since met to consider ways in which the new code can be implemented in South Africa. These recommendations will be presented to the SA Veterinary Authority for consideration to serve as a basis to negotiate with South Africa’s trading partners.

The new Code should result in significant changes to South Africa’s AHS Control Policy and a simplification of the export process with a major improvement in reliability.

This has formed part of Racing South Africa’s long term strategy to improve the delivery of its horses and is seen as a significant achievement for South Africa.

Peter Gibson
Chairman
Import Export Working Group

Tuesday, June 10, 2008