. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/494 
17 June 2004  
 
(04-2627) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
   
REPORT ON ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE INTERNATIONAL 
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR PLANT AND 
ANIMAL HEALTH (OIRSA) 
 
Report to be Submitted During the Meeting of
 
the Committee on 22-23 June 2004  
 
  The following communication, dated 16 June 2004,  is being circulated at the request of the 
International Regional Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA). 
 
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Training and dissemination in the area  of agricultural health and trade 
 
1. A regional seminar entitled Ensuring the Quality and Safety  of Agricultural Products:  
Regulations, Systems and Experience in Spain  was held in Guatemala within the context of the 
Framework Agreement for Technical Cooperation on Animal Health between the Ministry of 
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) of Spain and OIRSA.  It was attended by specialists from the public and private sectors in the region. 
2. In the framework of the Regional Project for th e Support of Agricultural Trade, which OIRSA 
implements jointly with the Inter-American Devel opment Bank (IDB), national se minars were held in 
each of the member countries of the Organization on Agricultural Regulations, Problems and 
Forward-Looking Strategies . 
3. In El Salvador, under the auspices of the same  project, three seminars were held for the 
benefit of the private sector on sanitary and phytosanitary measures and their relation with international trade and on food safety, together with four training sessions on the subject of good 
fishing practices. 
4. In Nicaragua, during the First Central Ameri can Conference on Apicultural Integration and 
Modernization, the keynote address was delivered on the subject of the identification and control of 
chemical contaminants in honey. 
5. Training was provided for staff of the Quaran tine Service in Belize, with emphasis on the 
observance of ISPM No. 15 of the International Pl ant Protection Convention (IPPC) referring to the 
treatment of wooden pallets. 
Technological master's degree in sa nitary and phytosanitary measures 
 
6. Module IV:   Epidemiology and Risk Analysis and Module V:   Evaluation of Agrosanitary 
Services  were developed.  The objective of the module on epidemiology is:  "to learn and apply the 
basic concepts of animal and plant epidemiology  in sanitary and phytosanitary measures and risk 
analysis", while the objective of the evaluation modul e is:  "to discuss the crite ria for the evaluation of G/SPS/GEN/494 
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agrosanitary services and identify the basic factors so as to assess the quality of the service provided, 
and to acquire knowledge of sampling a nd geographical information systems". 
Support for the prevention, control a nd eradication of pests and diseases  
 
7. In Nicaragua, in response to the emergency ar ising from the increase in the population of 
locusts, a meeting was held of the Acridid Regi onal Technical Group, which drew up strategies and 
measures to mitigate the damage that  might be caused by that pest. 
8. In Honduras support was provided to the sanita ry authorities of SENASA in drawing up a 
work plan and strategies to deal with  bovine brucellosis in the country. 
Strengthening of national sanitary institutions with a view to facilitating trade 
 
9. Within the framework of the FAO-OIRSA proj ect "Strengthening the phytosanitary capacities 
of the OIRSA member countries", evaluative studies on such capacities were finalized and proposals 
devised on the action to be taken. 
10. Within the framework of the Regional Project  for the Support of Agricultural Trade, 
El Salvador's quarantine information system  was provided with computer equipment. 
Interinstitutional coordination 
 
11. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)  and OIRSA signed a framework cooperation 
agreement whose aim is to exte nd the opportunities for trade in food and other agricultural products, 
and to develop sustainable agriculture, thr ough the good management and use of technological 
resources in public health and agricultural health. 
12. The Committee of Ministers of the region (H.CIRSA) informed officials of the Department of 
Agriculture of the United States of the economic, commercial, social and political impact of the 
presence of the Medfly and other fruit flies, with a view to coordinating efforts for their control and 
possible eradication. 
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