The World Organisation for Animal Health current and potential roles in safe international trade of bees and other insects

to develop guidance on insect trade should include the OIE in its role as the sole global standard setting organisation on animal health and welfare matters. This aligns with the OIE commitment to a One Health approach.


Introduction
The mission of the intergovernmental World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is improving animal health and welfare globally by drafting science-based international standards and guidelines for the prevention and control of animal diseases. The OIE standards are used by Veterinary Services to establish measures for the early detection, reporting and control of pathogenic agents that affect animal health, and for preventing the spread of those agents. Implementation of the standards ensures the safety of international trade in animals and animal products, while avoiding unjustified sanitary barriers.
The multipurpose and growing insect sector is not free from potential hazards to human, animal, or environment health (Mumford & Quinlan [1], this issue; [2]). International trade in insects and their products could pose risks for food or feed safety by carrying pathogens (e.g., Niassy et al. [3], this issue), impact the health of reared insects if pathogenic agents are introduced to the destination country and its colonies, affect native insect populations (e.g., Goka [4], this issue), or affect crops or biodiversity by the introduction of invasive species of insects to new territories [5]. Intellectual property considerations (Kumar et al. [6], this issue) and moral issues on exotic or endangered insect displays (Saul-Gershenz [7], this issue) are also increasingly important to stakeholders, alongside these animal health and ecological concerns. Therefore, preserving the health of insects, both reared and wild, by implementing science-based risk mitigation measures is an 41_1_20. Torres_et_al -pre-print 3 The OIE supports policymakers and governments in creating a future where humans and animals benefit from a more sustainable ecosystem balance in which bees and other insects play a significant role. As part of this special edition, colleagues from a range of institutions and experience have provided ideas on how to proceed [8,9].
The purpose of this paper is to describe the OIE's mandate in setting international standards for animal health and welfare, and also to describe the process of including bee health standards in the Terrestrial Code, which establishes the level of commitment that would be required before expanding the scope of the Terrestrial Code to new technical areas such as animal health aspects of insect trade.

The World Organisation for Animal Health International Standards
The role of the OIE as the international standard-setting organisation for animal health and zoonotic diseases is recognised by the World
In addition to chapters dedicated to the six listed diseases of bees, the 2021 edition of the Terrestrial Manual [11] [32].

Current scope of the OIE Terrestrial Code for insects and their products
The Terrestrial Code contains a Glossary [33] defining key terms and expressions that are used in more than one chapter and for which common dictionary definitions are not deemed adequate for the correct interpretation of the term or expression in the context of the OIE International Standards. Italicised text is used in the Terrestrial Code to indicate that the terms or expressions have been defined in the Glossary.
For the purposes of the Terrestrial Code, an animal is defined as 'a mammal, reptile, bird or bee'. In consequence, live insects other than bees are not considered as animals and current OIE standards do not apply to the international trade of live insects other than bees.
The Glossary defines commodity as 'live animals, products of animal origin, animal genetic material, biological products and pathological material'. As 'animals' in 'live animals' is italicised, its scope is restricted to live mammals, reptiles, birds, or bees. In contrast, 'animal' in 'products of animal origin', is not italicised, and consequently, can refer to a broader definition of animals. Therefore, in this context and for the purposes of the Terrestrial Code, the Glossary definition for commodity may be interpreted as including products derived from insects, such as insects processed for food or feed. Similarly, the 41_1_20. Torres_et_al -pre-print 9/18 Glossary definition for feed ingredient includes a non-italicised reference to 'animal', so may also be interpreted to encompass insect products that can be fed to animals.
Historically, the mandate of the OIE covering feed and food safety was limited to addressing animal feed as a pathway for the introduction or spread of contagious epizootic diseases (e.g., foot and mouth disease or With its experience and consistent with its mandate, the OIE is well placed to discuss, with other international organisations and the private sector, the need to develop guidance or standards or review existing guidance for safe international trade of insects and their products.
However, developing specific recommendations for evaluating and preserving the health of insects entering trade, other than bees, would require changes to the current scope of the OIE international standards and substantial resources.