Health and social policy

Executive Order 13759: Designating the World Organization for Animal Health as a Public International Organization Entitled To Enjoy Certain Privileges, Exemptions, and Immunities

President: Barack Obama

Designated the World Organization for Animal Health as a public international organization entitled to specified US privileges and immunities.

Status: In effect.

Is Executive Order 13759 still in effect? Yes. Active designation under the International Organizations Immunities Act.

What does Executive Order 13759 do?

EO 13759 designated the World Organization for Animal Health, then commonly known by the historical acronym OIE and now branded WOAH, under the International Organizations Immunities Act. The designation gives the organization the Act’s legal-capacity, property, tax, customs and official-function protections in the United States. It does not make WOAH a US regulator or give every employee blanket diplomatic immunity. The designation remains unrevoked while the United States continues participating in the organization.

Administration position: The order grants the statutory protections needed for official work in the United States; it does not transfer US animal-health authority to WOAH or immunize private conduct unrelated to official functions.
SignedJanuary 12, 2017
OrganizationWorld Organization for Animal Health
Authority22 USC 288

Before and after

Before the order

WOAH was an international animal-health body in which the United States participated but lacked this US presidential designation.

After the order

WOAH could receive the privileges and immunities supplied by the International Organizations Immunities Act.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Federal authoritiesRecognize the statutory designationContinuing
WOAHExercise protected legal and official functionsContinuing
US animal-health agenciesParticipate and cooperate under their own lawsContinuing

What happened next

EO 13759 made the designation.