. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/408
20 June 2003
(03-3314)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  Spanish
REPORT ON ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE OIRSA
IN RELATION TO THE AGREEMENT ON SANITARY
AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES
Statement by the International Regional Organization for Plant and Animal
Health (OIRSA) at the Meeting Held on 24-25 June 2003
Auditing of control, inspection and approval  procedures in Annex C to the Agreement on
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)
1. The results of the audit of control, inspection and approval procedures in the eight member
countries of OIRSA, which was completed in February 2003, can be found on the OIRSA website at
www.oirsa.org.sv , and we informed this Committee of the audit at the meeting of April 2003.
Project in support of agricultural trade through the harmonized implementation of sanitary
and phytosanitary measures in Mesoamerica
2. March of this year saw the launching of the project developed by the OIRSA in cooperation
with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in the framework of the Puebla Panama plan.  The
main objective of this project is to contribute to boosting trade in agricultural products from the
countries of the regions through the harmonization of agricultural health requirements and the
strengthening of the countries' organizational structures in that respect.
Preparation of technical documents
3. Information posters and leaflets were issued on the subject of West Nile Disease specifying
the origin and distribution of the disease, characteri stics of the infective agent, epidemiology, clinical
signs, differential diseases, laboratory diagnosis, and prevention and treatment.
4. Food News bulletins ( Actualidad Alimentaria ) were issued compiling and analysing
United States Public Law 107-188 - Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and
Response Act.  Information campaigns concerning this Law have also been organized in Honduras
and El Salvador.
5. A document was published under the title " Claras de los productos alimenticios almacenados
en la Región del OIRSA ".
New executive directorship for the OIRSA
6. Since 1 April of this year, the post of Executive Director of the OIRSA has been occupied by
Mr Oscar Manuel Gutiérrez R., a Salvadoran, who will be responsible for managing the organization
over the next four years.  From now on, the OIRSA's new vision will be based on the development ofthe following strategic areas:G/SPS/GEN/408
Page 2
(a) Institutional consolidation;
(b) impact of science and technology;(c) strategic services;(d) agricultural health and trade;(e) alliance and partnership;(f) institutional sustainability.
Support for the strengthening of the countries' institutions
7. With the OIRSA's support, El Salvador engaged in a process of institutional strengthening of
sanitary and phytosanitary services, conducting workshops with the participation of the country's
public sector, private sector and academic circles.  This should lead to the definition of a neworganizational structure and the development of strategic programmes for the institution.
OIRSA membership for the Dominican Republic
8. At the Lth Ordinary Meeting of the Honourable Committee of the International Regional
Organization for Plant and Animal Health (H. CIRSA) , made up of the representatives of agriculture,
livestock, fisheries, food, rural development and agricultural development from the OIRSA region,
the Dominican Republic was officially admitted as a full member of the OIRSA.
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