. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/505 
28 June 2004  
 
(04-2768) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
 
 
STATUS OF THE PROGRAMME TO ERADICATE 
 FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE 
 
Communication from Paraguay  
 
Meeting of 22-23 June 2004 
 
 
Background 
 
1. In Paraguay, an agricultural country par exce llence, exports of meat products and by-products 
have historically represented a significant percentage of the country's foreign trade.  In this context, 
the control of animal diseases, and in particular foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), is a national priority.  
 2. The long struggle against FMD began in 1966 with the launching of an official control programme.  
The eradication programme 
 3. The implementation of the programme to eradi cate FMD at the national level began in 1992,  
leading to the eradication of outbreaks in 1994.  4. In May 1997, Paraguay recei ved international certification from the World Organization for 
Animal Health (OIE) as a "country free of foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination".  This sanitary 
status was successively renewed until 2002, when the country lost its status following an outbreak on 
the border with Brazil.  5. Subsequently, the implementation of preventiv e measures to maintain the sanitary situation 
led to the termination of vaccination on 1 August 1999, with a view to achieving certification as a 
"country free of foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination".  
 6. However, in August 2000, following several FM D outbreaks in the regi on, in areas located 
both in Brazil (Río Grande do Sul) and in Argent ina (Northern and Central Provinces) that share 
borders with Paraguay, and in view of the very hi gh risk of the reintroduction of the virus into the 
country, the vaccination of cattle was resumed for techni cal reasons, since it was considered to be the 
most practical and appropriate technical way of maintaining the sanitary status that had been achieved.  7. Accordingly, a programme of strategic vaccination of all the affected cattle in the areas 
bordering Brazil and Argentina was initially launc hed in August and September 2000 by Decree 
No. 10.009/2000.  This was followed by Decree No. 10.863 of 23 October 2000, providing for compulsory vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease throughout the national territory.  These measures enabled the country to be recertified in 2000 and 2001 as being free of foot-and-mouth 
disease with vaccination.   
8. In addition to the eradication programme 's vaccination plan, a seroepidemiological 
surveillance plan was introduced in 2001 throughout the national territory, with emphasis on the areas 
considered to be most at risk, to supplemen t the routine inspection activities carried out at G/SPS/GEN/505 
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 refrigeration plants, livestock markets and shows and at the fixed and mobile control posts established 
by the official veterinary service (SENACSA).   9. In April 2002, SENACSA introduced a system based on sworn statements for the registration 
and accreditation of veterinary professionals practis ing in the private sector and responsible for 
issuing health certificates for animals intende d for export-accredited refrigeration plants. 
   10. Likewise, a system was introduced, also based  on sworn statements, for the registration of 
cattle ranches accredited to supply animals to the re frigeration plants that process meat for export.  
This system, together with the one outlined above, makes it possible to control the health and hygiene 
conditions of animals more thoroughly at the source.      
 11. Towards the end of 2002 a nd in mid 2003, the eradication programme's progress was affected 
by two occurrences of foot-and-mouth disease in the c ountry, leading to the loss of status as an "FMD 
free country with vaccination" and causing  the co untry enormous economic losses.   The first case 
occurred on 31 October 2002 at a cattle ranch in th e Department of Canindeyu, on the Brazilian 
border.  The second case occurred on 12 July 2003 in an  indigenous settlement in the locality of Pozo 
Hondo in the Department of Boquerón, very close to  the borders with Argentina and Bolivia.  Both 
cases were communicated to the OIE and other releva nt bodies, as well as to major trading partners, 
and were duly discussed with the members of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures 
at its twenty-fifth and twenty-eighth meetings.       
 
12. Since then, Paraguay has made it a priority to recover its health status as a "country free of 
foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination", and has th erefore introduced various measures, including: 
  - Obtaining sworn statements of animals held; 
 - Supervised vaccination of all bovine animals twice a year; 
 - Serological sampling at the national level;  - Carrying out joint activities at th e bilateral and regional levels; 
 - Forming animal health commissions at the national level, made up of representatives 
of public and private organizations;   
 - Introducing a computer system for health control posts; 
 - Measures to harmonize and strengthen the country's veterinary services. 
  As part of the "annual supervised vaccination"  efforts, the first vaccination of the bovine 
population took place from 1 to 30 June 2003 and th e second took place in the period from November 
to December 2003.  Both had a high coverage rate.  Current situation  
13. The first stage of the general vaccination of bovine animals for 2004 took place from 15 May 
to 30 June 2004.  
14. The favourable results of the national serol ogical survey designed in collaboration with 
PANAFTOSA have now made it possible to prepare the relevant documentation for submission to the 
OIE.  15. As of the date of this report, there have  been no outbreaks of the disease, nor has the FMD 
virus been detected in the country.  In the comi ng months, a report will be submitted to the OIE, and 
at the OIE meeting that is due to take place in earl y 2005, Paraguay expects to be able to regain its 
certification as "free of foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination".  
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