G/SPS/GEN/1768  
19 March  2020 
(20-2224) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
DECLARATION OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE FR EE STATUS  
COMMUNICATION FROM C OLOMBIA  
The following communication, dated 16 March  2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Colombia . 
 
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1.  On this occasion, w e wish to inform WTO Members that the World Organisation for Animal Health 
(OIE) has restored Colombia's health  status as a foot and mouth disease  (FMD) free zone where 
vaccination is practised . 
2.  As a result of epidemiological surveillance carried out in Co lombia in 2018, three outbreaks of 
Type O FMD were confirmed . For the sake of transparency, t he Colombian Agricultural Institute  (ICA)  
immediately notified the OIE, which withdrew its approval of the containment zone  and suspended , 
as of 1 0 August  2018, Colombia's status as a country "with FMD free zones where vaccination is 
practised ", as previously recognized by the World Assembly of OIE Delegates in Resolution No. 22 
of May 2018. 
3.  In light of the above, and w ith the aim of adopting the ne cessary sanitary measures for the 
control and eradication of FMD in order to recover the country's health status, ICA declared a 
nationwide health emergency by virtue of  Resolution No. 00033682 of 4 October  2018. 
4.  The strategy adopt ed for the control and eradication of the outbreaks wa s based on Article  8.8.7, 
paragraph  3.a, of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code , which calls for the  stamping out  of sick 
animals and their contacts, emergency vaccination and surveillance in accordance with  
Article s 8.8.40 and 8.8. 42, in order to restore  the status of "FMD free country where  vaccination is 
practised " six months after the last animal is kille d. 
5.  Following  the implementation of these measures, from 24 to 3 0 November  2019, Colombia 
received a visit from a commi ttee of OIE experts , who eva luated the action plan implemented by 
ICA to eradicat e the FMD outbreaks.  
6.  As part of the evaluation process, the OIE conducted on -site visits  in several departments , during 
which ICA presented  the national FMD programme , the new strategy to protect the country from 
possible future outbreaks, and the results of the action taken in conjunction with other national 
authorities through an integrated inspection centre  (CIIP)  comprising  ICA, the National Food and 
Drug Surveillance Institute (INVIMA), the Customs and Excise Police  (POLFA)  and the National Tax 
and Customs Directorate (DIAN), to curb agricultural smuggling . 
7.  The OIE's Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases (SCAD/OIE) later evaluated the data 
submitted by Colombia and concluded that the zone of Colombia satisfied the requirements under 
Article  8.8.7, paragraph 3 .a, of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code for regaining FMD free status.  
8.  Consequently , on 5 February  2020, the OIE restored Colombia's status as  an "FMD free zone 
where  vaccination  is practised ", as previously recognized by the World Assembly of OIE 
Delegates in Resolution No. 22 of May 2017. This information may be verified at: G/SPS/GEN/1768  
- 2 - 
  • https://www.oie.int/en/animal -health -in-the-world/official -disease -status/fmd/suspensionrei
nstatement -of-status . 
9.  Given  Colombia's new health status granted by the OIE in its capacity as  an SPS  Agreement  
reference body, we wish to invite WTO Members to inform their health authorities so that the 
restrictions imposed by some countries may be lifted, thus facilitat ing ongoing processes to ensure 
compliance  with sanitary requirements . 
10.  Further enquiries regarding the measures implemented by ICA for the declaration of FMD free 
status may be addressed t o: asuntos.internacionales@ica.gov.co . 
 
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