G/SPS/GEN/1536  
8 March  2017 
(17-1377) Page: 1/5 
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 68TH MEETING OF THE COMMI TTEE ON  
SANITARY AND PHYTOSA NITARY MEASURES,  
OCTOBER 2016 -FEBRUARY 2017  
The following communication, received on 7 March  2017, is being circulated at the request 
of OIRSA . 
 
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1  TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES RELATING TO 
AGRICULTURAL HEALTH A ND TRADE  
1.1.  In cooperation  with the Guatemala Mediterranean fruit fly programme (MOSCAMED), a  
seminar/workshop on maintenance and use of a Medfly-free area was held in the department of 
Petén, Guatemala . Training was provided for 25  professionals from the OIR SA region and Ecuador.  
1.2.  An induction workshop for new users of the Mesoamerican early warning system was held in 
Boquete, Chiriquí Province, Republic of Panama.  
1.3.  In conjunction with Mexico's National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR), Autonomous 
University of Ch apingo (UACh) and Natio nal Polytechnic Institute (IPN), a regional training 
workshop on diagnosis of pine beetle and borer  species and other quarantine pests  was conducted 
for nine Central American technical professionals.  
1.4.  A regional workshop on Central Am erican locust ( Schistocerca piceifrons ) management was 
held in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico . The workshop provided training for 37 phytosanitary professionals 
coordinat ing or working on  locust control campaigns and agronomy professionals from Mexico and 
the OIR SA region.  
1.5.  A course/workshop entitled "Introduction to Pest Risk Assessment " was held in El  Salvador to 
present pest risk assessment  tools in the international regulatory framework stemming from  the 
WTO and SPS Agreement . It was attended by officials from the Ministries of Agriculture of 
El Salvador and Guatemala and by technical staff from Bolivia's pest risk assessment  unit. 
1.6.  A workshop to revise, update and publish the contingency plan for a potential  Foc R4T 
outbreak, revise, update and publish the regio nal plan of action to prevent the entry , and contain a 
potential outbreak , of Foc R4T , and schedule training and simulation exercises  for 2017 was held 
in Panama.  
1.7.  Training was provided for around 40 third -year students at the University of El  Salvador in 
order to update the new professionals on citrus huanglongbing (HLB) control and management.  G/SPS/GEN/1536  
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  1.8.  OIRSA set up an information booth at the XVIIth Orange Festival in the municipality of 
San Juan Opico, El Salvador, to provide and hand out information on HLB diseas e and related 
activities being promoted in the region.  
1.9.  An intensive training day on the production of healthy citrus plants in accordance with the 
principles of the OIRSA -Chinese  Taipei/ICDF HLB project  was held in Honduras for 44 students and 
teaching sta ff from the Western Regional University Centre (CUROC) in the department of Cop án. 
1.10.   An HLB training event was held in the Dominican Republic to update 23 leaders on the new 
requirements for the production of healthy citrus plants.  
1.11.   At the Orange Fair in Cocl é Province, Panama, OIRSA provided training for 50  citrus 
producers and technic al staff  on topics relating to the production of health y citrus plants.  
1.12.   The fourth theoretical  and practical refresher course on white shrimp pathology  and fish 
immunology was h eld in Panama for Panamanian producers and officials.  
1.13.   The third regional online course on transboundary animal diseases for official veterinarians 
from OIRSA countries was held with support from the United States Department of Agriculture and 
Iowa State Un iversity . 
1.14.   In El Salvador, technical and financial support was provided for the Second National 
Apiculture Congress, which was attended by 300 producers.  
1.15.   With support from the Organization for the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector of the Central 
American Ist hmus  (OSPESCA) and the Directorate -General of Fisheries and Aquaculture 
Development (CENDEPESCA ), OIRSA produced a manual of good non-industrial maritime fisheries 
practices.  
1.16.   With support from the Mexican National University (UNAM) and Mexico's National He alth, 
Food Safety and Agri -Food Quality Service (SENASICA ), OIRSA produced manuals of good 
livestock, manufacturing in relation to  beef, pork and poultry meat,  and HACCP practices.  
1.17.   With support from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO ), the Tropical 
Agricultural Research and Higher Education Centre (CATIE)  and Honduras' National Agricultural 
Health Service (SENASA), OIRSA produced a regional manual of good agricultural, processing and 
packaging practices  for cocoa ( Theobroma cacao ). 
1.18.   OIRSA drew up and circulated a regional manual of good agricultural and manufacturing 
practices for cashew nuts  (Anacardium occidentale ). 
1.19.   With support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the FAO and Mexico's 
SENASICA, OIRSA ran a workshop on ag ri-food safety risk assessment , which was attended by 
23 agri-food safety officials from the OIRSA region.  
1.20.   OIRSA took part in t he 5th international forum on food safety, which  was attended by food 
safety directors  from eight OIRSA countries.  
1.21.   The online course for training trainers in good livestock, manufacturing and HACCP practices 
(in relation to cattle, pigs and poultry) was finalized with the approval of Course No. 141 out of a 
total of 306.  
1.22.   OIRSA conducted  a videoconference , entitled "Association Agree ments between 
Central  America and the European Union, and the SPS Agreement" , for food safety directors  and 
officials from the region.  
1.23.   It also conducted a videoconference to train technical staff from the region's testing 
laboratories i n mass spectrometry for food analysis . 
1.24.   OIRSA ran an online course on good livestock  and manufacturing practice  requirements  for 
beef exports to the European Union and other demanding markets.  G/SPS/GEN/1536  
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  1.25.   The online course on how to structure contaminant s and residue monitoring programmes  
provided training for 83 officials . Each country developed and shared a contaminants monitoring 
programme.  
1.26.   OIRSA issued the "Quick start guide for statistical sampling in epidemiological surveillance 
programmes : microbiological agents and toxic residues ". 
1.27.   A workshop on legislation, control and analysis of residues in fruit and vegetables for export 
was held in Honduras . It was attended by 22 agri -export companies and officials from the Ministry 
of Agriculture.  
1.28.   Developed with the help of El Salvador's Franc isco Gavidia University, t he second online 
diploma for advanced online tutors and digital content producers , aimed at  technical staff of the 
Ministries and Secretariats of Agriculture and Livestock and OIRSA officials , was finalized.  
1.29.   OIRSA ran a course on the development of  agricultural quarantine management skills for 
directors and heads of plant and animal quarantine services in the Ministries and Secretariats of 
Agriculture and Livestock of the nine member States , Agricul tural Protection Service (SEPA)  
managers,  and International Quarantine Treatment Service (SITC) managers . The course  was 
attended by 21 officials.  
1.30.   A refresher course on transboundary diseases such as foot -and-mouth disease and classical 
swine fever, endemic diseases such as brucellosis, i nspection of means of transport and goods of 
animal origin , disease control , and internal and external quarantine was held in Panama City . It 
was attended by 31 participants.  
1.31.   Also in Panama City, the fifth course on quarantine treatment brought together 
15 assistants  from the Panama's International Quar antine Treatment Service (SITC) , eight officials 
from the Executive Directorate of Agricultural Quarantine, eight officials from the National Plant 
Health Directorate  in the  Ministry of Agricultural Developme nt, five officials from the Panamanian 
Food Safety Authority , and two agr o-quality officials from the Republic of Ecuador.  
2  SUPPORT FOR THE HARMONIZATION AND EQUIVALENCE PROCESS  
2.1.  Guatemala received support in revising and adapting  the health risk assessment  for swine 
fever developed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA)'s Vice-Ministry of Plant 
and Animal Health and Regulations (VISAR).  
3  PREVENTION, CONTROL AND ERADICATION ACTIVITIES (PROGRAMMES OR 
CAMPAIGNS)  
3.1.  OIRSA updated the  contingency p lan for an outbreak of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.  cubense  
tropical race four in an OIRSA member country . 
3.2.  In El Salvador, three demonstration plots for integrated pest - Huanglongbing management 
were set up  in the municipalities of San Antonio Pajonal, Tacub a and San Juan Opico, in order to 
begin demonstrating integrated citrus pest management  and build up technical capacity for the 
monitoring of  Diaphorina citri and the detection of suspected symptoms of the disease inside the 
plots.  
3.3.  In Beli ze, 90 Shoot Tip Grafting (STG) trials were conducted as a strategy for obtaining clean 
citrus material of cultural, national or regional importance in the context of Huanglongbing (HLB)  
control.  
3.4.  In Panama, the harvesting of healthy citrus shoots was demonstrated in the greenhouses 
(level 2) of the OIRSA  - Chinese Taipei /ICDF - Ministry of Agricultural Development ( MIDA ) HLB 
project . Thanks to the  training provided , 2,000 healthy Persian lime shoots were harvested and 
certified material was supplied to Panamanian nurseries for propagation.  
3.5.  Teaching materials (booklets, teaching guides and flip charts) developed by the project on 
strengthening the bovine paralytic rabies prevention and control system (FAO-OIRSA project G/SPS/GEN/1536  
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  TCP/RLA/3501) were reproduced in support of the veterinar y services of Guatemala, El Salvador, 
Honduras and Nicaragua.  
3.6.  OIRSA developed the computer -based  bovine health module for brucel losis-tuberculosis, 
which ensures the elimination of infected animals and achieves the objective of national control 
and eradica tion programmes.  
3.7.  Guatemala received support in laying the foundations of the programme for the gradual 
eradication of bovine brucellosis , with the participation of organized and industrial producers 
(ASOBRAHAMAN and DELICARNES), the MAGA and OIRSA . 
3.8.  Guatema la was given  support in restructuring its national bovine spongiform encephalopathy 
(BSE) surveillance programme, with the help of organized producers.  
3.9.  Technical support was also provided so that  the Guatemalan d epartment of Petén could 
declare itself as an area free from low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H5N2  virus.  
3.10.   El Salvador received technical assistance to develop  a sampling design for determining the 
circulation of LPAI H5N2 virus.  
3.11.   Belize was given  technical and financial support to ascertain the magnitude of the 
Aethina  tumida  outbreak detected in September  2016. 
3.12.   The classical swine fever regional emergency plan was updated in accordance with good 
emergency management practices (GEMP).  
3.13.   OIRSA participated in the  training  seminar for veterinary legi slation and biological risk 
reduction experts organized by the OIE  in the framework of  the Veterinary Legislation Support 
Programme  (VLSP)  in the Americas.  
3.14.   The Veterinary Diagnostic and Veterinary Research Laboratory (LADIV) of the Ministry of 
Agricultural  Development of Panama was recognized as the regional reference laboratory for 
Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic  for the diagnosis of Eastern, Western and 
Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis . 
3.15.   With financial support from OIRSA, t he Regional  Animal Health Reference Laboratory 
(LARRSA) of the Guatemalan University of San Carlos  was recognized  in November  2016 as the 
reference laboratory for Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic for the diagnosis of 
classical swine fever.  
3.16.   OIRSA gav e support to Belize in designing and installing large billboards at Belize 
International Airport and the Benque Viejo land border, to promote  a health -oriented culture 
among the population and tourists arriving all year round.  
4  STRENGTHENING OF NATIONAL INS TITUTIONS IN ORDER TO FACILITATE TRADE  
4.1.  Guatemala 's Phytosanitary Laboratory received support for the molecular diagnosis of 
Xylella  fastidiosa  and its sub -species.  
4.2.  OIRSA helped  countries build up their diagnostic capacities by means of ELISA kits and 
suppo rted their action plans for the management of Xylella fastidiosa.  
4.3.  Diagnostic kits , such as the Banana Plant Tissue DNA Extraction & Purification kit and the 
Real-Time PCR Foc TR4 diagnostic kit, for the detection of Fusarium oxysporum  f. sp. cubense  
were p urchased for the countries of the region.  
4.4.  Training in extension, nutrition and epidemiology was provided to strengthen the capacities of 
the rust disease control programme in El Salvador.  G/SPS/GEN/1536  
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  4.5.  Seven monitoring routes for the prevention of HLB are maintained und er the HLB project as a 
strategy for early detection and control of outbreaks , if citrus greening  is detected in areas free 
from HLB.  
4.6.  In Panama, support was provided for the launching of the tandem mass ( MS/MS) 
spectrometry detector at the MIDA's Toxic Res idue Laboratory . This will allow the detection of 
analytes such as sulphonamides and ivermectin.  
5  STRATEGIC ALLIANCES FOR THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND TRADE  
5.1.  With support from OIRSA, IAEA, USDA, FAO  and the trinational MOSCAMED programme, 
the Dominican Republ ic was able to resume its fruit and vegetable  exports  to the United States 
in 2016.  
5.2.  An agreement was signed with Guatemala's ANACAFE and PROMECAFE to coordinate the 
work on coffee integrated pest management . 
5.3.  The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) received support in coordinating the 
implementation of the project on honey chain traceability in Guatemala (STDF/PG/515) . 
5.4.  The OIRSA -USDA cooperation agreement on the strengthening of epidemiological surveillance 
of foot-and-mouth disease, cattle screwworm and other transboundary animal diseases is being  
implemented . 
5.5.  The regional project for the accreditation of laboratory diagnostic tests for animal diseases 
(STDF/PG/495) is being  implemented . 
5.6.  FAO-OIRSA t echnical cooperation project TCP/RLA/3502 , "Strengthening of Agricultural 
Health Services between the Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic" , is being implemented.  
5.7.  Regional project RLA/5/067, "Strengthening of capacities for the prevention and gradual 
control of cattle screwworm in Latin Ameri ca and the Caribbean", is being implemented jointly with 
the IAEA.  
5.8.  A cooperation agreement in support of OIRSA countries and their animal and human 
populations was signed between OIRSA and the Central American Veterinary Industry Federation  
(FIVETCA) to pr omote the correct use of veterinary drugs and antimicrobial resistance monitoring  
(ARM) . 
5.9.  Establishment of the Regional Veterinary Drugs Commission  following approval by  the 
International Regional Committee for Plant and Animal Health (CIRSA) . 
5.10.   OIRSA took pa rt in the Global Meeting of Food Safety Regulators to discuss the positions  of 
country regulatory authorities on private certification schemes.  
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