WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/GEN/1179 
20 July 2012 
 (12-3982) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original: Spanish 
  
 
 
SANITARY STATUS OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE (FMD) 
 
Communication by Argentina  
  
 The following communication, received on 10 July 2012, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Argentina. 
 
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 1. By implementing the strategic actions defined in the 2001 National Eradication Plan of the 
National Agrifood Health and Quality Service (SENASA), the Argentine Republic has obtained 
OIE recognition of FMD-free status in the following  three zones, which together cover the entire 
national territory (see illustration 1): 
 Patagonia, FMD-free zone without vaccinati on:  approved by the OIE in 2002 and 
expanded in 2007 to include the area from the 42
nd parallel to Río Negro).  This status 
has been maintained, and is ratified each y ear by the OIE with the annual updating of 
the epidemiological surveillance results. 
 Centro Norte, FMD-free zone with v accination:  from Río Negro northwards, 
recognition obtained in 2003 and, after twice being suspended, restored in 2007.  Its 
status has remained unchanged since then, a nd is ratified each year by the OIE with 
the annual updating of the epidemiological surveillance results. 
 Cordón Fronterizo, FMD-free zone with v accination:  had always belonged to the 
Centro Norte zone, but when that zone rec overed its free status in 2007, an agreement 
was concluded between the OIE and th e neighbouring countries separating the 
Cordón Fronterizo so that special measures for the border areas could be applied with 
the support of the Permanent Veterina ry Committee of the Southern Cone 
(CVP-MERSOSUR).  It occupies a strip along the border about 25 km wide which, 
for operational reasons, is divided into Frontera Norte A (Salta, Formosa) and 
Frontera Norte B (Chaco, Corrientes and Mision es).  Its status was restored as a zone 
separate from the Centro Norte zone on 4 February 2011. 
2. Today, the National FMD Eradication Plan implemented in 2001, through which it has been 
possible to achieve and maintain the curren t status, includes the following strategies: 
 Regionalization for the application of differentiated strategies; 
 systematic and mandatory vaccination of bovine animals; 
 control of animal movements; G/SPS/GEN/1179 
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   effective system of bovine identification; 
 high quality vaccination; 
 control and maintenance of the vaccine cold chain; 
 epidemiological surveillance:  response to reports, serological sampling; 
 active participation of producers in the implementation of the policies outlined at the 
national level by SENASA. 
Illustration 1:  Current Sanitary Status in the Argentine Republic  
 
 
 
Bilateral and multilateral actions 
 
3. Relations between neighbouring official h ealth services along the borders have been 
strengthened with the help of joint activiti es in the framework of MERCOSUR's FMD Action 
Programme (PAMA), which began in 2007.  Border  meetings were conducted in the course of 2011 
between the official health services of the neighbou ring countries, in particul ar with the local border 
offices of Paraguay and Bolivia. 
4. At the same time, further technical assistance activities are being conducted in Bolivia and 
Paraguay in the framework of the CVP and PAMA with a focus on improving the FMD vaccination 
Free zone with vaccination,  Cordón Fronterizo  
Free zone with vaccination,  Centro Norte 
Free zone without vaccination,  Patagonia   G/SPS/GEN/1179 
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  system and optimizing vaccination coverage, and on twinning arrangements with laboratories in 
Paraguay in accordance with OIE standards. 
5. Argentina's sanitary status is ratified every year by the OIE, using annual epidemiological 
surveillance samples to show the absence of any vira l activity and to determine the immunity levels of 
cattle subject to the vaccination plan.  These st udies revealed that the protection levels were 
satisfactory and consistent with good vaccination coverage, sufficient to prevent the circulation and 
transmission of the FMD virus in the zone with vacc ination.  Active surveillance also pointed to the 
absence of any infection in the zone without vacci nation, supporting its sanitary status as "FMD-free 
zone where vaccination is not practised".  This surveillance forms part of the strategies of the 
National FMD Eradication Plan introduced in 2001. 
6. The procedures that have been  introduced to implement the National Eradication Plan 
strategies are in line with OIE guidelines and reco mmendations.  In other words, recognition by the 
OIE of the different zones has been granted because th e plan is consistent with the OIE's Terrestrial 
Code and Terrestrial Manual and complies with international requirements for recognition of 
free zones, validated annually by the OIE. 
7. For all of the above reasons, Argentina's sanitary  status entitles it to market fresh meat and 
meat products as well as live animals and othe r FMD susceptible animal by-products, since it 
complies with the sanitary requirements set forth in Chapter 8.5 of the Terrestrial Code for free zones 
where vaccination either is or is not practised .  In the specific case of bovine meat, the 
OIE's recommendations are set forth in article 8. 5.23 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code. 
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