WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/377
26 March 2003
(03-1740)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  Spanish
EVOLUTION OF THE FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE
ERADICATION PLAN IN ARGENTINA
Communication from Argentina
1. Introduction
The National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Eradication Plan was started in April 2001, the overall
objectives being:
• To eradicate foot-and-mouth disease from Argentina and to secure international
recognition of the situation;
• to move towards the creation of subregional blocs which, with reference to foot-and-
mouth disease, are internationally recognized as equivalent health areas.
The Plan is fully operative, along with a number of policy measures, chiefly regionalization
of the country, control of the movement of animals, animal by-products and like products, theInformation System for Notification and Suspected Cases of Vesicular Diseases and management of
the oil-based foot-and-mouth vaccine.
The strict vaccination plan, the excellent quality of the oil-based vaccine, the animal
movements controls and the epidemiological surveillance, inter alia , were the strategies that
succeeded in controlling the epidemic and then securing the clinical absence of foot-and-mouth
disease from 23 January 2002 onwards.
2. Vaccination campaigns
As a priority measure for controlling foot -and-mouth disease, the whole of the bovine
population throughout the country is systematically vaccinated, with exception of the region south of
the Río Negro and the Province of Neuquen, which has been declared "Foot-and-mouth disease-freewhere vaccination is not practised", under Resolution No. XVII at the meeting of the OIE
International Committee held on 28 May 2002.
A long lasting oil-based tetravalent vaccin e (01 Campos, A24 Cruzeiro, A Argentina 2000
and A Argentina 2001 virus) is used and the vaccination is done by the local health bodies under thesupervision of SENASA's local veterinary surgeons.  The strategy consists of annual campaigns
covering all bovine categories.  Since the National Eradication Plan was started (April 2001), there
have been four consecutive systematic vaccination campaigns and the campaign for this year is under
way.G/SPS/GEN/377
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3. Seroepidemiological surveillance
The follow-up and assessments of the strategies implemented are crucial in determining the
degree of progress in the Eradication Plan, by detecting deviations so as to make the requisite
corrections.
The assessments have demonstrated optimum population immunity, reflected in the absence
of outbreaks since January 2002.
In view of the absence of clinical cases, the need arose to use other seroepidemiological
indicators, such as the level of viral activity and studies of population immunity.
Accordingly, in the course of 2002, various seroepidemiological studies were conducted:
• Cattle, sheep and goat sampling:  viral activity and immunity level (among bovines).
• Sampling of farm-bred deer (Cervus elaphus):  viral activity.
• Sampling of wild biungulates in Pata gonia – Foot-and-mouth disease-free area
without vaccination (deer and boar):  viral activity.
• Goat sampling in Mendoza (border with Chile):  viral activity.
The first of these was the most extensive, with the highest number of samples (69,000 sera of
both types) and covered the whole of the country, including the disease-free areas.  The results led to
the following conclusions:
A substantial reduction in the incidence of the disease over time.  The secondary role of sheep
and goats in maintaining and transmitting foot-and-mouth disease under the production and operating
conditions in our country.
In view of the epidemiological situation regarding foot-and-mouth disease in 2000 and 2001,
the levels are generally low, and in many cases within the margin of error of the laboratory analysis
methods used.  This indicates that the measures adopted as from the first half of 2001 to control the
epidemic have led to absence of the disease and have cut viral activity down to very low levels.
The population immunity is good, even in the most vulnerable categories (animals 6 to
12 months and 12 to 24 months old).
The absence of viral activity in the free areas (Patagonia Sur and Norte B) has been
confirmed.
As for the three other studies, 100 per cent tested negative, thereby confirming the absence of
viral activity in the species sampled.
4. Developments in the health situation
23 January 2003 marked the first year without foot-and-mouth disease.
Confidence in Argentine agri-food production has been regained and is reflected in the fact
that 61 markets are open to bovine meat and $2,071 million was earned in 2002 from exports of meat,G/SPS/GEN/377
Page 3
dairy products, raw hides and other edible products of animal origin, certified by the National Health
and Foodstuff Quality Service (SENASA).
The Argentine sanitary system has been inspected on many occasions by technical experts in
connection with foot-and-mouth disease, more particularly:
• Two inspections in Cuenca del Plata (C PFA – OPS), two by experts from the
European Union and the United States FSIS and APHIS, to assess the sanitary
situation in connection wi th foot-and-mouth disease.
• In 2002, experts from the sanitary services in Chile, Russia, Thailand, Philippines,
Morocco, Ecuador and Venezuela monitored the foot-and-mouth disease situation inArgentina and the results were highly satisfactory, so that after the inspection the
market was opened up for export of fresh boneless bovine meat.
• In October 2002, experts from Cuenca del Plata  (CPFA – OPS) came on a regular
inspection, with the participation of experts from Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and
Brazil, and the results were satisfactory.
5. Results obtained
The European Union market for fresh boned and maturated bovine meat from Argentina was
reopened (2002/45/EC).
At the meeting of the OIE International Committee held on 28 May 2002, the General
Committee declared the region of Argentina situated south of the 42
nd parallel as "Foot-and-mouth
disease-free area where vaccination is not practised".
Under Decision 2002/338/EC, on 2 May 2002 the European Commission authorized imports
of fresh ovine, caprine and bovine meat, with bone, from the region south of the 42nd parallel.
Sixty-one markets1 were reopened for exports of bovine meat by applying the OIE
recommended risk mitigation procedures.
6. Conclusion
The foot-and-mouth disease situation in the Argentine Republic is under control and is stable,
and this means that it is possible to comply strictly with the recommendations established by the OIE
International Animal Health Code regarding Chapter 2.1.1 and the products involved.
__________
                                                     
1 European Union (15 member States), Russian Federation, Switzerland, Slovenia, Norway, Bulgaria,
Czech Republic, Albania, Kosovo, Poland, Brazil, Ur uguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Aruba,
Curaçao (Dutch Antilles), Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Saint Martens, Singapore (South of the 42nd Parallel),
Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Egypt, Angola, Gabon, Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Congo, Qatar,Nigeria, Algeria, Oman, South Africa, Kuwait, Moro cco, Israel, Guadeloupe (French Antilles), Slovakia,
Finland, Malaysia, Martinique, Reunion, Kenya and Jordan.