The evaluation of Veterinary Services is an important element in the risk assessment process which countries may legitimately use to formulate policies with regard to animal health and public health controls of international trade in animals, animal-derived products, animal genetic material and animal feedstuffs. In order to ensure maximum objectivity in the evaluation process, some standards of discipline must be applied. The Office International des Epizooties has developed a set of guidelines which can be applied by a country to the evaluation of its own Veterinary Services, or the Services of another country, for the purposes of risk assessment in international trade. These guidelines set out in detail the criteria to be used for the evaluation of the activities of Veterinary Services and their relations with other public bodies and industry. In making an evaluation, a selection should be made from among these criteria, according to the objective of a particular investigation. A model questionnaire is also included, which may be used to document the evaluation of Veterinary Services.