WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/492 
15 June 2004 
 
 (04-2586) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
  
 
REPORT BY COLOMBIA ON THE SITUATION AND CONTROL OF 
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE 
 
Communication from Colombia
 
 
 
 Colombia wishes to report to the internati onal community through the Committee on Sanitary 
and Phytosanitary Measures on the progress of th e programme to eradicate foot-and-mouth disease 
(FMD) in the country and the current situation.  Free zone without vaccination 
 
1. In 1997, the World Organization for Animal Hea lth (OIE) recognized the northern part of the 
department of Chocó to be an FMD free zone wit hout vaccination, a status that has been renewed 
annually by the OIE at its General Session. 
Free zone with vaccination 
 
2. In May 2001, the OIE recognized Colombia's nor th zone, including most of the departments 
on the Atlantic Coast, part of the department of  Antioquia and seven municipalities in the northern 
department of Caldas, to be FMD free with vaccination. 
 In May 2003, the OIE recognized a new zone, including the majority of municipalities located 
in the departments of Antioquia, Bolívar, Cesar, No rth Santander and Santander, to be FMD free with 
vaccination.  
Zone proposed for recognition as FMD free with vaccination 
 
3. This year, Colombia's Official Animal Health Service submitted to the OIE the 
documentation required to request recognition of tw o new FMD free zones with vaccination.  This 
documentation is due to be considered at the next  meeting, in October.  Colombia will send the 
additional information required by the OIE before that meeting. 
 For greater clarity, we have attached a political map of Colombia showing the geographical 
location of each of the zones described according to the current FMD situation. 
 G/SPS/GEN/492 
Page 2  
 
  
 
 
 
General Comments 
 
• Colombia has a bovine population of 21,793,434 in 483,135 herds, of which almost 
50 per cent are located in zones recognized  as being FMD free, with and without 
vaccination. 
 
• The country covers an area of 1,141,74 8 square kilometres, of which 269,047 
correspond to the zone recognized as being FMD free. 
 
• The last outbreak of the disease in the country occurred on 22 September 2002, in a 
municipality located in the so-called endemic zone, meaning that 21 months have 
passed without an outbreak in any part of the country. 
 
• The vaccination against FMD is administered by the National Livestock Federation 
through its 80 Livestock Committees and its 4,914 vaccinators.  Furthermore, 
additional vaccinators are provided by the departmental agricultural authorities and 
by the Municipal Agricultural Technical Assistance Units (UMATA). 
 
• Vaccination is carried out in cycles, with two cycles taking place per year, each one 
lasting 45 days. 
 
• The vaccination coverage rates at the country level for the last four years have been 
as follows: 
    - 2000 85.5 per cent 
 
   - 2001 91.3 per cent 
 FREE ZONE WITHOUT VACCINATION 
RECOGNIZED BY THE OIE IN 1997  
 
FREE ZONE WITH VACCINATION RECOGNIZED 
BY THE OIE IN 2001 AND 2003  
 
PROTECTION ZONE  
 
ZONE TO BE PROPOSED IN 2004  
 
ENDEMIC ZONE PROPOSED ZONING 
COLOMBIA 2004  
  G/SPS/GEN/492 
 Page 3 
 
 
    - 2002 92.7 per cent 
 
   - 2003 95.0 per cent 
 
• In order to control the movement of animals and animal products within the country 
and at borders, the animal health service has established 58 control posts that are 
strategically located in accordance with th e epidemiological status of the zones, 
movement patterns and production systems, and at which compliance with established standards is verified. 
 
• In order to minimize the risk of introd ucing FMD through imports of live animals and 
animal products, the sanitary measures estab lished in the Terrestrial Animal Health 
Code, the Andean Community rules and th e sanitary agreements with individual 
countries are applied. 
 
• Strict controls are applied at livestock ma rkets and auctions and generally anywhere 
where there is a concentration of animals, using appropriate legislation to control the 
disease. 
 
• Legislation has been adapted to reflect th e current FMD situation, in accordance with 
OIE standards. 
 
• Cold stores for exports that meet with inte rnational standards are strategically located 
throughout the country. 
 
__________