The standards in the TAHC have been adopted by the World Assembly of the OIE.[1] The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures "recognises the OIE as the international standard setting organisation for animal health and zoonotic diseases and specifically encourages the Members of the WTO to base their" legislation and regulations "on international standards, guidelines and recommendations, where they exist."[1]