Agreement on the Headquarters of the World Organisation for Animal Health

The Agreement, concluded between Belgium and the Office International des Epizooties (also known as World Organisation for Animal Health) on 4 March 2013, establishes the headquarters of the organization in Belgium and regulates its legal status, privileges and immunities in the Host Country.

Within the scope of its official activities the OIE shall enjoy immunity from jurisdiction and execution, except that the immunity of the OIE shall not apply: a) to the extent that the OIE shall have expressly waived such immunity in a particular case; b) in respect of a civil action by a third party relating to persons or goods, insofar as this civil action is not directly connected with the official activities of the OIE; c) in respect of a civil action by a third party for damage caused by a motor vehicle belonging to, or operated on behalf of, the OIE or in respect of a motor traffic offense involving such a vehicle; d) the attachment, pursuant to the final order of a court of law, of the salaries and
emoluments owed by the OIE to a staff member; e) in respect of any counter-claim directly connected with court proceedings initiated by the OIE; f) in respect of the enforcement of an arbitration award made in accordance with Article 30 of the present Agreement (Article 3).

The Head of the Office shall enjoy the immunities, privileges and facilities granted to members of the diplomatic personnel of diplomatic missions. His or her legal spouse and his or her dependent minor children, living in the same household, shall enjoy the privileges granted to the legal spouse and to the minor children of diplomatic personnel (Article 18).

All staff members of the Office shall enjoy legal immunity for acts performed in their official capacity, including words written or spoken; such immunity shall apply even after they have left the service (Article 19).

The Head of the Office shall waive all immunity whenever the immunity would impede the course of justice and such waiver does not prejudice the proper functioning of the Office (Article 24).

The Office and all its staff members shall co-operate at all times with the appropriate Belgian authorities to facilitate the proper administration of justice, to ensure observation of police regulations and to prevent the occurrence of any abuse in connection with the immunities and privileges provided for in this Agreement (Article 26).