The idea of compartmentalisation was instigated by the OIE to foster more international trade in case an exporting country has confirmed a case of exotic disease. Whereas in the 20th century all products from the exporting nation would be affected by bans, compartmentalisation allows trade to flow from theoretically non-affected zones. In other words, compartments can be split up into geographic regions, or corporate structures, or any number of discriminants as long as they are split on a scientific basis.[2]