G/SPS/GEN/1458  
9 October 2015  
(15-5274)  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 64TH MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE 
ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
14-16 OCTOBER 2015 
The following communication, received on 29 September 2015, is being circulated at the request 
of OIRSA. 
 
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 1  TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DI SSEMINATION ACTIVITIES RELATING TO 
AGRICULTURAL HEALTH AND TRADE 
1.1.  In Honduras, a training course on Mediterranean fruit fly surveillance and control (including 
diagnosis and data management) was organized for technical staff from the fruit fly 
control programme. 
1.2.  In Tapachula, Mexico, a regional course on the identification of fruit fly species of economic 
significance was organized for technical staff from the fruit fly control programmes of OIRSA member countries. 
1.3.  A workshop on Fusarium oxysporum  Tropical Race 4 and its threat to musaceae was held 
in Guatemala for producers, traders, universities, and public and private sector technical officials. 
1.4.  In Guatemala, training workshops took place on  the epidemiology and recognition of citrus 
huanglongbing (HLB) and on healthy citrus plan t production and regulations. These workshops 
were attended by technical staff from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food and producers. 
1.5.  A training workshop on integrated pest management (IPM) for citrus HLB was held 
in El Salvador for technical staff from the National Agricultural and Forestry Technology Centre (CENTA) at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. 
1.6.  In Honduras, a training workshop on HLB and HLB vector control and IPM strategies was 
organized for producers and technical staff from the National Agricultural Health Service. 
1.7.  In Belize a training workshop on the status of HLB in Mullins River and Maya Mopan, 
integrated pest management and health management in citrus, the general perspective of 
replanting/renewing, and iodine testing, was organized for producers and technical staff from the 
Ministry of Agriculture. 
1.8.  A  t r a i n i n g  w o r k s h o p  o n  H L B  p r e v e n t i o n  a n d  s u r v e i l l a n c e  a c t i v i t i e s  w a s  h e l d  i n  P a n a m a  f o r 
technical staff from the Ministry  of Agricultural Development. 
1.9.  In the Dominican Republic and Panama, an outreach workshop on phytosanitary coffee 
management, entitled "Improved agricultural practices and outreach: the region's greatest challenge", was organized for technical staff from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of 
Agricultural Development, respectively. G/SPS/GEN/1458 
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  1.10.  Also in the Dominican Republic, a meeting was held with coffee growers to discuss 
suggestions and alternatives in respect of the revival and modernization of coffee production in the Dominican Republic. 
1.11.  A regional workshop on transboundary diseases was organized in Panama. It focused on 
porcine epidemic diarrhoea, avian influenza an d foot-and-mouth disease, and the use of the 
incident management system. The workshop was organized in conjunction with APHIS, the IICA, FAO and the OIE and was aimed at technical staff from the veterinary services of 
member countries. 
1.12.  An online course on epidemiological surveillance in shrimp farming was completed by 70 
technical officials from 11 countries (Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Panama and Peru). 
1.13.  Students from nine countries (Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, 
Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama) attended a regional course on epidemiological surveillance in shrimp farmin g that took place in Panama. 
1.14.  In El Salvador and Nicaragua, small-scale pr oducers from rural communities attended talks 
on backyard poultry management and nutrition. 
1.15.  In the Dominican Republic, a talk was give n to producers and professionals from the 
Dominican Republic and Central America on the steps countries must take to be declared free of 
classical swine fever and the steps they must take after such a declaration has been made. 
1.16.  In Honduras, a training workshop for trainers on bovine paralytic rabies was organized by 
FAO, OIRSA, SENASA and the public health author ities. The workshop was attended by SENASA 
technical staff and public health officials. 
1.17.  OIRSA participated in the 15
th Meeting of Directors of Rabies Control Programmes in 
Latin America (REDIPRA) with a talk on OIRSA support activities for member countries. The talk 
was attended by directors of the rabies control programmes of REDIPRA member countries and 
officials from Ministries of  Health and Agriculture. 
1.18.  In Honduras, support was provided for a national simulation exercise on avian influenza in 
which both the public and private sectors participated. 
1.19.  In Guatemala, a bovine traceability operator training course was organized for technical 
staff from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA), producers, and Guatemalan agricultural sector officials. 
1.20.  In Panama, OIRSA took part in the nation al dairy farming congress organized by the 
Panamanian Dairy Farmers' Association (APROGALPA), with a talk on the importance of traceability in the implementation of bovine health programmes. 
1.21.  In Guatemala, OIRSA took part in the EXPO LECHE 2015 event organized by the Chamber of 
Milk Producers, with a talk on the Guatemalan bovine traceability system. The same talk was given to the Guatemalan Association of Brahman Cattle Farmers (ASOBRAHMAN). 
1.22.  A regional training course for inspectors on good agricultural and manufacturing practices 
and the safe production of fresh fruit and vegetabl es was held in Costa Rica. The course was aimed 
at public and private sector officials from OIRSA member countries. 
1.23.  In Guatemala, a regional course was organized to train trainers on good agricultural and 
manufacturing practices and the safe production of fresh fruit and vegetables. The course was 
aimed at safety officers from companies producing fresh fruit and vegetables for export, faculty of 
agronomy lecturers and agricultural extension workers from member countries. G/SPS/GEN/1458 
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  2  SUPPORT FOR THE HARMONIZATION PROCESS (INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT AND 
REVIEW OF STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES, NEGOTIATIONS AND AWARENESS-RAISING, AND TECHNICAL MEETINGS, INCLUDING RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS) 
2.1.  Development and reproduction of three technical protocols: Diagnostic Protocol on 
Huanglongbing in Citrus Leaves, Protocol on the Integrated Management of Huanglongbing, 
and Protocol on the Production of Healthy Citrus Plants. 
2.2.  In Panama, OIRSA participated in the Porcine Technical Commission (COTENAPOR) working 
group to help develop technical documents and determine areas in which the pig farming sector 
requires support. 
2.3.  The Regional Apicultural Traceability Standard, developed by the OIRSA Ad Hoc Group as 
a contribution to its member countries, was reviewed, circulated and approved. 
2.4.  Guidelines on poultry, drawn up by OIRSA, were printed out and distributed to public and 
private sector technical staff from Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic. 
2.5.  The regional protocol on the recognition of areas free of avian influenza and 
Newcastle disease was revised. 
2.6.  The handbook of procedures for Newcastle disease was revised within the framework of the 
Regional Veterinary Legislation Project (STDF-PG-351). 
2.7.  Regional guidelines on poultry were revised with the assistance of the subcommittees of the 
Regional Technical Committee on Poultry Health (CTRSA). 
2.8.  The handbook of procedures pertaining to the regional progressive control programme for 
bovine tuberculosis was revised within the framework of the Regional Veterinary Legislation Project 
(STDF-PG-351). 
2.9.  Assistance was provided in the drafting of a handbook of procedures for implementing the 
Honduran national bovine traceability system. 
2.10.  A proposed epidemiological surveillance system was devised for bovine brucellosis with 
a view to Belize's self-declaration as a country free of the disease. 
3  PREVENTION, CONTROL AND ERADICATION ACTIVITIES (PROGRAMMES OR CAMPAIGNS) 
3.1.  Support continues to be given to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic in its 
efforts to stop the spread of Mediterranean fruit fly and in the implementation of a joint eradication plan. 
3.2.  With a view to monitoring the presence, or abse nce, of the psyllid that transmits citrus HLB, 
four monitoring routes, covering a distance of 458 km and comprising 126 traps, i.e. one trap 
every 3.6 km, have been set up in the Panamanian provinces of Chiriquí, Veraguas, Coclé and 
Bocas del Toro. 
3.3.  Steps have been taken to strengthen control of the coffee berry borer in Panama. 
200,000 Cephalonomia stephanoderis  parasitoids, biological control agents of the coffee berry 
borer, were sent to Panama with a view to the establishment of artisanal breeding laboratories. 
3.4.  Technical assistance continues to be provided to the programme for the control and 
eradication of classical swine fever in Guatemala. 
3.5.  Small-scale producers in El Salvador have received technical assistance in the areas of 
poultry health, prophylaxis, handling and nutrition. 
3.6.  OIRSA, in conjunction with FAO, APHIS, th e IICA, the OIE and CARIBET, has provided 
technical assistance to Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic for the progressive control of 
classical swine fever. G/SPS/GEN/1458 
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  3.7.  Technical assistance has been provided for the implementation of the Honduran national 
traceability and livestock registration system (SINARP). 
3.8.  Technical assistance has been provided to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food 
(MAGA), the Chamber of Milk Producers and the Nati onal Cattle Farmers Association, with a view 
to the implementation of the Guatemalan national bovine traceability system (SINAT–GT). 
3.9.  Support has been provided to El Salvador, Guatemala and Belize for the drafting of 
national avian influenza control and eradication plans. 
3.10.  The second phase of the Regional Health Programme for Backyard Poultry (PRESAAT) has 
now been prepared and will be managed through international financial cooperation. 
4  PREPARATION OF TECHNICAL MATERIAL S (INCLUDING MANUALS, TECHNICAL 
DOCUMENTS, POSTERS, ETC.) 
4.1.  Newly developed outreach materials on the prevention, management and control of citrus 
HLB have been distributed to countries particip ating in the OIRSA ICDF HLB project (Belize, 
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic). 
4.2.  The following proposals have been drafted: pig farm certification regulations; 
Porcine Technical Commission (COTENAPOR) regu lations; and a form for assessing pig farm 
biosafety. 
4.3.  An information leaflet on transboundary and endemic shrimp diseases has been prepared 
and distributed. 
4.4.  1,000 copies of a guide to surveillance, dete ction and response in respect of equine 
encephalomyelitis have been printed out and distributed. 
4.5.  Handbooks have been prepared on the segregated production of bovine meat and 
bovine meat products. 
4.6.  The following outreach materials have been distributed: a technical document on the 
integrated management of the coffee berry borer; a practical guide to sampling for the chemical 
analysis of soil in coffee plantations; and a poster detailing recommendations for the manual and cultural control of the coffee berry borer. 
5  STRENGTHENING OF NATIONAL INSTITUTIO NS IN ORDER TO FACILITATE TRADE 
5.1.  Support was provided to help the National Animal Health Directorate (DNSA) at the 
Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) of Panama to conduct a review of the current situation. 
5.2.  Support was provided, in the form of biological products for diagnosing Newcastle disease 
and avian influenza, to public sector diagnostic laboratories and epidemiological surveillance systems in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. 
5.3.  Support was provided to assist in managing the purchasing of reagents for the diagnosis of 
bovine brucellosis, within the framework of the national bovine brucellosis control and eradication programme in El Salvador. 
6  STRATEGIC ALLIANCES FOR THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND TRADE 
6.1.  OIRSA and the Agricultural and Forestry Development Centre (CEDAF) of the Dominican 
Republic have signed a letter of understanding wi th a view to the development of technical and 
financial cooperation activities that promote research, knowledge management and the production 
of healthy citrus plants that are free of HLB and other pathogens of economic significance to the 
Dominican Republic. 
6.2.  OIRSA and the International Atomic Energy Agency have formed a strategic alliance to 
support a Latin American fruit fly surveillance and control programme. G/SPS/GEN/1458 
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  6.3.  The Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) and OIRSA have signed an interinstitutional 
agreement on the operation and administration of the Panamanian national bovine traceability programme. 
6.4.  An agreement has been signed with the National  Agrarian University (UNA) of Nicaragua to 
provide online courses on safety issues. 
6.5.  The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock an d Food (MAGA) and OIRSA have signed an 
interinstitutional agreement on the operat ion and administration of the Guatemalan 
national bovine traceability system. 
6.6.  A cooperation agreement has been signed by APHIS/USDA and OIRSA. 
6.7.  A technical cooperation agreement has been signed by OIRSA and the rector of the 
National Agrarian University (UNA) of Nicaragua. 
6.8.  An agreement has been signed by OIRSA and th e Central American Higher University Council 
(CSUCA). 
6.9.  A letter of intent has been signed by OIRSA and the deans and directors of faculties and 
schools of veterinary medicine in OIRSA member countries. 
 
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