STATUTE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN ZOONOSES CONTROL PROGRAMME (1)

INTRODUCTION

The present Statute has been agreed in order to develop the Programme with the full participation of interested States.

OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF THE PROGRAMME

1. The objective of the Programme shall be:
   1. to foster countrywide programmes for the control of zoonoses and related foodborne diseases as an integral part of national health programmes,

   2. to strengthen the co-operation between national veterinary and public health services in improving the surveillance, prevention and control of these diseases, and

   3. to continue and enhance collaboration between appropriate WHO Collaborating Centres in the context of the activities covered by the Programme.

2. The Programme shall cover all relevant aspects of veterinary public health both connected with traditional activities and deriving from new industrial technological development and urbanisation in Member-countries, including the organization and management of services. Particular relevance shall be given to most prevalent foodborne diseases.

(1) Following the unanimous decision of the 11th JCC, articles 3.1 (c) and 1 (paragraph 2) were amended. Following the unanimous decision of the 14th JCC, article 2.1 was amended. In accordance with Article 10 of the Statute, the present Statute is in force from 1 January 2002 and replaces that of January 1997 which is no longer valid.

PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAMME

1. Any State in Europe, any Arab State or any Member state of the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the WHO, may be invited by the Director-General of WHO to participate in the Programme by notifying him of its acceptance of this Statute.

2. A Participant in the Programme shall cease to participate six months after it has notified the Director-General of WHO of its desire to discontinue participation.

3. Participation shall be suspended, until decided otherwise by the Joint Co-ordinating Committee referred to in Article 7, if a Participant fails to pledge, or to pay its pledged contribution, in accordance with Article 3.1(c), in any two successive years.

4. Multilateral organizations or agencies may be invited by the Joint Co-ordinating Committee to become Participants in the Programme.

OBLIGATIONS OF PARTICIPATING STATES

1. By accepting this Statute, each participating State undertakes:
   1. to adopt appropriate national policies and implement effective programmes with respect to the control of zoonoses and related foodborne diseases;

   2. to exert its best efforts to ensure an effective technical co-operation with the other Participants, drawing upon those technical resources available to it in the form of relevant WHO collaborating centres, national institutes, research and training facilities, epidemiological surveillance and relevant information;

   3. to pledge, by 30 June of each year, an annual contribution to the Programme of at least US dollars 20,000; to inform WHO of the amount pledged; and to transfer that amount to WHO before the end of the year concerned. Any part of a contribution exceeding the said minimum amount may, in agreement with the Joint Co-ordinating Committee, be pledged and made in kind.

2. At the time of acceptance of this Statute or as soon as possible thereafter, each Participant shall designate a national co-ordinator to perform the function of liaison in connection with the Programme.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

1. WHO shall be responsible for directing and co-ordinating the Programme, in close collaboration with the Participants. WHO shall draw upon the support of its Regional Offices concerned and its Headquarters in the planning, implementation and evaluation of the activities under the Programme.

2. WHO shall, with its Financial Regulations, administer the funds received pursuant to Article 3.1(c) exclusively for the purpose of the Programme. It shall transmit an annual statement of accounts to the Joint Co-ordinating Committee.

3. WHO shall use its best efforts to supplement the Programme's budget by funds from other sources.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE INTERNATIONAL OFFICE OF EPIZOOTICS

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Office of Epizootics (OIE) shall be kept informed of the progress of the Programme, and be invited to co-ordinate their activities, as appropriate, in the field of zoonoses control and to exchange information with the Programme.

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF HEALTH OF ARAB STATES THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE ARAB FUND FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

The Council of Ministers of Health of Arab States, the European Union and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development shall be kept informed of the progress of the Programme and shall be invited to co-operate with the Programme and to participate in its work.

JOINT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE

1. There shall be a Joint Co-ordinating Committee consisting of all Participants and WHO. The membership of a Participant shall be suspended if and for so long as it is in arrears in its contributions in accordance with Article 3.1(c).

2. The Joint Co-ordinating Committee shall :
   1. review the activities of the Programme;

   2. consider, with a view to approval, the activities and related budget proposed by WHO for the following biennium;

   3. consider, with a view to adoption, proposals for the amendments of this Statute in accordance with Article 10.

3. The Joint Co-ordinating Committee shall be convened by WHO at least once every two years. Subject to paragraph 4, it may adopt its own rules of procedure and set up sub-committees, as appropriate, for the discharge of its responsibilities.

4. Decisions may be taken by the Joint Co-ordinating Committee if a simple majority of Participants, and WHO are present. All decisions shall, if possible, be taken by consensus. Whenever a consensus cannot be reached, decisions may, unless this Statute expressly provides otherwise, be taken by a simple majority of the members present and voting for or against the motion concerned.

5. Representatives of the organizations referred to in Article 5 and 6, and of any appropriate organization or agency invited by the Joint Co-ordinating Committee, may attend the Committee's meetings as observers.

MEDITERRANEAN ZOONOSES CONTROL CENTRE

1. The Programme shall have a Mediterranean Zoonoses Control Centre which shall exercise, under the guidance of the Joint Co-ordinating Committee and WHO, a co-ordinating and liaison function. Subject to the conclusion of an appropriate agreement between the Government of Greece and WHO, the Centre shall be located in Athens.

2. The Director of the Centre shall be assigned by WHO subject to the availability of the necessary funds. The Director shall have the power to act on behalf of the Centre. Other necessary personnel, who shall be responsible to the Director, shall be provided in the manner to be determined by the Joint Co-ordinating Committee in collaboration with WHO and the Government of the host country.

3. The Centre shall :
   1. be a component of the Programme, acting as a co-ordinator for the national activities in the field of zoonoses and related foodborne diseases by facilitating inter-country contacts with national authorities and national institutions concerned;

   2. maintain liaison with WHO (Regional Offices and Headquarters) and other relevant organizations;

   3. advise Participants, at their request, on planning and management of national activities under the Programme;

   4. act as a clearing house for information on zoonoses and foodborne diseases;

   5. maintain inventories of relevant resources, such as manpower, training facilities, health education material and biologicals;

   6. advise on and promote relevant training programmes;

   7. identify centres that are able and willing to take over programme components, and arrange for the integration of such centres in the Programme;

   8. perform any other functions that may be requested by the Joint Co-ordinating Committee.

4. The Centre shall provide WHO, for distribution to all Participants and collaborating institutions, an annual report on the progress of national and inter-country activities. The Centre shall provide WHO with the information and material necessary for the preparation of the statement of accounts referred to in Article 4.2.

5. All documents prepared by the Centre shall, to the extent feasible, be in Arabic, English and French.

ENTRY INTO FORCE

This Statute shall enter into force when the Government of the State in which the Mediterranean Zoonoses Control Centre is to be located and the governments of at least nine other States referred to in Article 2.1 have notified their acceptance of this Statute.

AMENDMENTS