G/SPS/GEN/2123  
 
5 June 2023  
(23-3794) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL ORGANIZATION  
FOR PLANT AND ANIMAL HEALTH (OIRSA) RELATING TO THE  
WTO AGREEMENT ON THE APPLICATION OF SANITARY  
AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES  
REPORT TO THE COMMITTEE ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES,  
FEBRUARY - MAY 2023 
The following communication, received on 31  May 2023, is being circulated at the request of  OIRSA.  
 
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1  TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES RELATING 
TO AGRICULTURAL HEALTH AN D TRADE  
1.1.  As part of measures to prevent the entry of Fusarium oxysporum  f. sp. cubense  tropical race  4 
(Foc TR4) into the OIRSA region, a training workshop was held in Honduras on precision agriculture 
in banana crops using satellite images as a tool to provide early warning and detection of potential 
cases of Foc TR4; the workshop was held with technical support fr om the Chinese Taipei 
International Cooperation and Development Fund, the National Agriculture and Food Health and 
Safety Service of Honduras (SENASA), and OIRSA. In the Dominican  Republic , with support from 
the country 's Ministry of Agriculture, producers  were trained in farm management in the event of 
suspected cases of the pathogen. In Belize, with support from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
(BAHA), the Chinese Taipei International Cooperation and Development Fund and OIRSA , 20 small 
banana pro ducers were trained in strategies to prevent Foc TR4 in their crops. In Honduras and 
Guatemala, with support from the Inter -American Development Bank (IDB),  SENASA, the Ministry 
of Agriculture, Livestock and Food of Guatemala (MAGA), the Chinese Taipei Int ernational 
Cooperation and Development Fund and OIRSA , a forum and  simulation exercise were held on 
Foc TR4 prevention and containment in Musaceae crops; more than 120  people took part from 
sectors including government, production, academia, and research. With support from Nicaragua 's 
Institute for Agricultural Protection and Health (IPSA) , the Food and Agriculture Organization of the 
United Nations (FAO) and OIRSA , a simulation exercise was organized for wilt in Musaceae caused 
by Foc TR4; more than 15  Latin American countries took part and the country 's capacity to contain 
a possible outbreak was assessed.  
1.2.  In conjunction with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Ministry of 
Agriculture and Livestock of El  Salvador (MAG) a virtual phytosanitary day was organized on the 
detection and eradication of outbreaks of fruit flies in fruit fly -pest free areas. Additionally a 
simulation exercise was held of the plan to be follow ed in the event of an outbreak of fruit flies of 
genus Bactrocera  spp; delegates from El  Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and 
Panama participated.  
1.3.  Training was provided in the Australian fumigation standard for staff at t he International 
Quarantine Treatment Service (SITC) of OIRSA, the Agricultural Protection Service of OIRSA (SEPA) 
for Honduras and Guatemala, and the SITC of Costa  Rica. In Honduras and Guatemala, SITC staff 
were trained in quarantine treatments, includin g fumigation, spraying, sprinkling and handling of 
international waste. In Nicaragua staff were trained in the use of equipment to measure the 
concentrations of substances for the application of quarantine treatments.  G/SPS/GEN/2123  
 
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  1.4.  In order to assist customs in El  Salva dor and Honduras in preventing the entry of pests or 
diseases of agricultural concern, three dog -handler pairs were trained to detect suspect material of 
plant or animal origin. Trainers of dog -handler pairs were also trained in order to bolster 
dog-handli ng units in countries across the OIRSA region.  
1.5.  The course on quantitative exposure assessment models for pesticides in food was held in 
Costa  Rica, as was a Better Training for Safer Food  (BTSF) workshop on food safety crisis 
preparedness , which provided specialized  advanced training in food safety crisis preparedness and 
management.  
1.6.  Where food security and food safety are concerned, technical support was provided to SENASA 
of Honduras in the use of the Global Environment Monitoring System/Food Contaminatio n Monitoring 
and Assessment Programme (GEMS/Food) platform. A quantitative risk assessment workshop was 
also held using a Monte  Carlo simulation to assess exposure to the pesticide Chlorpyrifos in food, 
inorganic arsenic in rice and aflatoxins in maize.  
1.7.  In view of the regional emergency caused by outbreaks of avian influenza, a refresher day on 
the status of the disease was held in the Dominican  Republic. Environmental technicians and 
technicians from the ministries of agriculture and livestock of Costa Ric a, El Salvador, Guatemala, 
Honduras, Panama and the Dominican Republic were trained in measures to prevent and control 
avian influenza (AI) and the risk of it being introduced at border crossings and blind spots. In 
Guatemala a training seminar was organiz ed for outreach workers and veterinarians in government 
and private practice on surveillance of avian influenza.  
1.8.  Workshops were delivered on the importance of the multi -sectoral "One Health " approach in 
prioritizing zoonotic diseases, including avian influ enza.  
1.9.  A practical and theoretical training course on strategy for progressive control of bovine 
brucellosis and tuberculosis was organized in El  Salvador for technical staff in the Veterinary Services 
Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock o f El Salvador. March  2023. 
1.10.  In conjunction with the National Network for Surveillance and Control of Antimicrobian 
Resistance in Guatemala (RAM Network) , training was organized on alternative treatments for multi 
drug-resistant bacteria and strategies to co mbat antimicrobian resistance, the latter with support 
from the Pan American Center for Foot -and-Mouth Disease and Veterinary Public Health 
(PANAFTOSA/VPH).  
1.11.  Technical assistance was provided to the MAG  of El Salvador in revising its epidemiological 
surveil lance plan for bee health.  
2  SUPPORT FOR THE HARMONIZATION AND EQUIVALENCE PROCESS  
2.1.  A regional risk analysis was drawn up on the risk that quarantine or cross -border pests and 
diseases may be introduced into countries in the OIRSA region through new or used t yres or used 
clothing.  
2.2.  The second phase of the regional project for the accreditation of laboratory diagnostic tests for 
animal diseases (SDTF/PG/495) was concluded in seven countries in the region (Belize, Costa  Rica, 
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nic aragua and Panama); under the project 11  additional 
techniques were approved.  
3  PREVENTION, CONTROL AND ERADICATION ACTIVITIES (PROGRAMMES OR 
CAMPAIGNS)  
3.1.  Four satellite monitoring points were set up at Musaceae farms in Guatemala with support from 
OIRSA, the Chinese Taipei International Cooperation and Development Fund and MAGA  of 
Guatemala. This will help to strengthen surveillance in banana -producing areas of the country 
through an early warning system for Foc TR4. 
3.2.  Owing to the declaration of avian influenza  in Costa  Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama, 
extraordinary regional emergency funds were activated to implement measures to prevent, control G/SPS/GEN/2123  
 
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  and eradicate low and high pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI and HPAI), strengthen the level  3 
animal health l aboratories of the OIRSA member countries, implement a regional communication 
campaign and support the formulation of national plans and a budget to respond to the emergency. 
As a follow -up to the emergency plans that the countries formulated, technical mi ssions were 
conducted in the countries of the region.  
4  STRENGTHENING NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO FACILITATE TRADE  
4.1.  OIRSA participated in the establishment of the technical committee monitoring the 
implementation of the Law on the protection of plantain and banana crops in Guatemala in order to 
prevent the introduction of Foc TR4 and other pests of Musaceae.  
4.2.  Support is being provided to the construction of holding corrals on the border at El  Ceibo 
(Guatemala -Mexico), to check cattle for export to Mexico.  
5  STRATEGIC ALLIANCES TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND TRADE  
5.1.  The letter of agreement for the implementation of the Regional Project  to prevent and control 
Fusarium  Tropical Race  4 in banana and plantain crops in Honduras was signed; it will be 
implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG) -SENASA, the Chinese Taipei 
International Cooperation and Development Fund and OI RSA. The aims of the project include  
strengthen ing the diagnosis of diseases in plants, for example by establishing field technology and 
building laboratories ' technical capacities.  
5.2.  A working meeting took place  between OIRSA officials and the Palm Growers Association 
(GREPALMA) of Guatemala to draw up strategies to prevent pests and diseases that affect palms 
and introduce a joint work plan.  
5.3.  The Progressive Pathway for Emergency Preparedness (PPEP) process continues in OIRSA 
member countries, in conjunction  with FAO -OIRSA, in order to enable each country to assess its 
animal health emergency preparedness so that the priority and key areas as identified by each 
country can be worked on and managed.  
5.4.  The Agreement with Rafael Landívar University in Guatemala wa s reactivated; it makes it 
possible to strengthen research projects and to deliver diploma, postgraduate and master 's degree 
courses in agricultural topics covering the nine countries in the OIRSA region.  
5.5.  The "One Health Commission " was established, compri sing OIRSA, Centres for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC), the Executive Secretariat of the Council of Ministers of Health of Central 
America (SECOMISCA) and the Central American Commission on the Environment and Development 
(CCAD), in order to strength en intersectoral work on the human -animal interface of avian influenza.  
 
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