G/SPS/GEN/2213  
 
21 March 2024 
(24-2465) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION  
COMMUNICATION  FROM  BELIZE  
The following proposal , received on  20 March 2024, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Belize . 
 
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1.  Belize is grateful for the technical assistance received from the International Regional 
Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA) and the "Taiwan International Cooperation and 
Development Fund " (ICDF)  for assisting Belize in its efforts to exclude Fusarium oxysporum  f. sp. 
cubense  Tropical Race 4 (TR4) from Belize and the region while at the same time prepare in case of 
an eventual detection.  
2.  Fusarium oxysporum  f. sp. cubense  Tropical Race 4 (TR4) is a  soilborne fungus that represents 
one of the biggest threats to global banana production, affecting not only local and international 
markets but also food security for millions of people in banana -growing areas.  
3.  TR4 has the potential to contaminate soils f or decades. Planting material, water, soil particles, 
tools, footwear and machinery can efficiently disseminate the fungus.  
4.  TR4 is aggressive to Cavendish banana which is the cultivar grown as a commercial crop 
worldwide. It can attack other cultivars such  as plantains, cooking bananas and a diverse range of 
dessert bananas which are major sources of food in tropical countries.  
5.  TR4 was first reported in Chinese Taipei  in 1989, but is believed to have originated in South East 
Asia. In 2013, it was reported i n the Middle East, which was the first official report of TR4 outside of 
South  East Asia. The disease continues to spread and has been reported in the Middle East, Africa, 
and Europe. In 2019, TR4 was reported for the first time in Latin America (in Colomb ia). It is already 
present Peru and Venezuela.  
6.  In Belize, bananas are the second largest export, after sugar and one of the oldest industries in 
the country. It makes up 1.8% of Belize 's GDP. Banana represents 17% of Belize 's total exports. 
The value of ba nana exports in 2022 was BZE $82 million. About 3900 persons are employed in the 
banana industry in Belize.  
7.  Considering the importance of the industry to Belize, the Plant Health Department of the Belize 
Agricultural Health Authority has been taking measur es (surveillance, public awareness, increase 
diagnostic capacity etc.) in collaboration with the Belize banana industry and working in tandem with 
other countries of the region to exclude TR4 from Belize and the region while at the same time 
prepar ing in case of an eventual detection.  
8.  In an effort to strengthen our preparedness in his regard, four officers of the Belize Agricultural 
Health Authority took part in training programs "Integrated Pest Management and Diagnosis of 
Tropical Race 4 Fusarium in Banana Cultivation " under the "Regional Project for the Prevention and 
Control of Fusarium TR4 of banana and plantain in Central America ", co-implemented by 
"Taiwan  ICDF", OIRSA, and the Government of Belize.  G/SPS/GEN/2213  
 
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  9.  Two of the officers took part in the training "Strengthening the Capacity for TR4 Diagnosis " held 
from 10 –16 September 2023 in Chinese Taipei  and the other two participated in "Integrated 
Management of TR4 " that took place at various locations in Chinese Taipei  from 
17-23 September  2023.  
10.  Belize would like to thank OIRSA and the "Taiwan ICDF " in assisting our efforts to prepare for 
our response to a TR4 outbreak if any should occur.  
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