OIE Collaborating Center

The Center for Animal Health and Food Safety serves as a World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) collaborating center for Veterinary Services Capacity Building. CAHFS trains veterinarians and animal health professionals working in public veterinary services—government and non-government organizations that work to improve animal health and food safety worldwide for the betterment of society.

What is the OIE?

The Office International des Epizooties (OIE) was created in 1925 as an intergovernmental organization to prevent the spread of animal diseases across national borders, which was a major problem after World War I. In 2003 the Office became the World Organization for Animal Health, although the acronym OIE was retained. 

Dedicated to improving animal health worldwide, the OIE is recognized by the World Trade Organization (WTO) as the global standard-setting organization for the safe trade of animals and animal products. The OIE has 180 member countries, with regional and sub-regional offices around the world, numerous OIE reference laboratories, and 50 OIE Collaborating Centers with a variety of focuses.

CAHFS role as an OIE Collaborating Center

OIE logo with text that says Collaborating Center of the OIE for Veterinary Services Capacity Building

CAHFS has served as an OIE collaborating center since 2006. CAHFS is currently designated under the field of veterinary services capacity building in the Americas, with endorsement from the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS).

Through education and training, CAHFS provides support and solidarity to countries to help build skills and resources. Our capacity building initiatives aim to support the sustainable development of communities, countries, and regions that the OIE serves, around the topics of animal health and disease control.

To build capacity in support of the public good, CAHFS:

  • Trains veterinarians in OIE international standards
  • Builds partnerships among the food industry, governments, and non-governmental organizations to support OIE initiatives
  • Provides support to other Collaborating Centers that want to develop English programming

Learn more about our status as an OIE collaborating center in the news article Minnesota expertise supports international animal health

For more information on OIE Collaborating Centers, visit the OIE website