G/SPS/GEN/1732  
14 October  2019 
(19-6657) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKE N BY THE INTERNATION AL REGIONAL  
ORGANIZATION FOR PLA NT AND ANIMAL HEALTH  (OIRSA)  
RELATING TO THE WTO AGREEMENT ON THE  
APPLICATION OF SANIT ARY AND  
PHYTOSANITARY MEASUR ES 
REPORT TO THE COMMIT TEE ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASUR ES 
JUNE-SEPTEMBER  2019 
The following communication, received on 11 October  2019, is being circulated at the request of 
OIRSA.  
 
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1  TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DISSE MINATION ACTIVITIES RELATING TO 
AGRICULTURAL HEALTH  AND TRADE  
1.1.  In Guatemala, in conjunc tion with the Ministry  of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA),  a 
simulation exercise to prepare for handling a possible outbreak of banana Fusarium oxysporum 
f.sp.cubense  (Foc TR4) was conducted with the p articipa tion of the Independent Banana Producers 
Association  (APIB) and the local  FAO mission . 
1.2.   In Panama , a simulation exercise for the containment and management of a banana Fusarium 
wilt (Foc TR4) outbreak  was conducted jointly with  the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) 
and the COBANA enterprise . 
1.3.  In Guatemala , in response to a regional alert issued by OIRSA, joint action was taken  by the 
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) with OIRSA to prevent the introduction of Foc  TR4 
into the country.  
1.4.  In Nicaragua, the  Institute for Agricultural and Livestock Protection and Health  (IPSA)  and 
OIRSA conducted  a simulation exercise to prepare for handling the eventuality of an  outbreak of 
Foc TR4. This was a capacity -building exercise for the exclusion and preven tion of a possible 
outbreak of Fusarium wilt of  musaceae (banan as and plantains) in the country.  
1.5.  In conjunction with FAO, a virtual course on Foc TR4 was officially launched  as part of a training 
strategy to prevent outbreaks of Fusarium wilt disease (Foc TR4) on plantain and banana plantations . 
Two thousand , three  hundred  technicians  from 28 countries of the Americas, and representing the 
entire banana production chain , participated in this course . 
1.6.  Guatemala received support for the training of a canine unit at th e MIDA canine school in  
Panam a. 
1.7.  In Nicaragua , two canine units were traine d at the  SENASICA  canine school in Mexico. 
1.8.  Training was provided to staff of the International Quarantine Treatment Service (SITC) on the 
use of equipment to measure the concentration s of substances  used in fumigation processes.  
1.9.  Support was granted for non -intrusive X -ray inspection at the Juan Santamaría  airport in  
Costa  Rica and the El Salvador  International Airport . G/SPS/GEN/1732  
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  1.10.   The staff of  SITC in Guatemala  were certified , subject to Australian norms on fumigation . 
1.11.   In Guatemala, OIRSA gave a  lectur e on the intrinsic link between  food safety  and food security  
in a panel of experts on agricultural  health  as a guarantee  for food security . The aim of the 
discussions  was to  reinforce the  knowledge  of participants from public, private and academic 
institutions on animal and plant  health as a component for ensuring food safety . 
1.12.   In Guatemala, OIRSA particip ated in the roundtable "Safe Food is Everybody's Business " on 
7 June, during the first celebration of World Food Safety Day , which had been declared by the 
United  Nations  in Decem ber 2018. 
1.13.   In support of the celebration of World Food Safety Day, video material was produced to assist 
the Ministries/ Secretariats of the OIRSA regi on in their  dissemination, awareness -raising and 
sensitization  efforts  on this topic.  
1.14.   A course on hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) for fisheries and aquaculture 
products was developed and organized and offered simultaneously on a virtual platform  to all 
OIRSA  countries in the  region . 
1.15.   The editing of the OIRSA manual, "Introduction to Food Safety ", was completed.  
1.16.   Thirteen public sector officials from seven countries of the region, except Belize and Mexico, 
were trained in  the validation of microbiological control measures in the food industry . 
1.17.   The regional course on risk analysis in food safety , offered  through the OIRSA virtual 
classroom , is under way . It is the final course for the Diploma in Food Safety established by OIRSA, 
in coordination with the University of San Carlos in Guatemala, for public sector officials from  the 
countries of the region.  
1.18.   Awareness -raising talks on "Good poultry practices, biosafety, and the welfare of broiler 
chickens" were attended by Panamanian veterinary doctors and producers at various National 
Poultry Commission (COTAN)  training sessions . 
1.19.   At the first national symposium on animal welfare, organized by the Faculty of Veterinary 
Medicine of the University of Panama  in August  2019, OIRSA participated in the chat session and 
forum on animal welfare during  transport  and on slaughtering  practice s. 
1.20.   OIRSA attended the sixth Latin American  Pig Farming Congress , organized by the 
Latin American Organization of Pig Farmers ( OIPORC), moderating the talks on the global status of 
African swine fever.  
1.21.   It also participated in the  Tenth Regional Steering Committee  Meeting of the  Global 
Framework on Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF -TADs) in the Americas , at 
which progress in the prevention of the spread of African swine fever in the region was highlighted.  
1.22.   A self -managed cou rse on  epidemiological surveillance in shrimp farmin g was offered  through 
the OIRSA virtual classroom  from June to September  2019. 
1.23.   A keynote speech on health threats facing  the OIRSA region  was delivered at the 
62nd anniversary celebration of the foundation of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal 
Husbandry at the San Carlos University in Guatemala . 
1.24.   A speech about the work of OIRSA in the control of bovine paralytic rabies in the region was 
delivered in celebrat ion of World Rabies Day in Costa Rica.  
1.25.   In Guatemala , a training workshop for the delegation of veterinarians from the National 
Programme for the Control and Gradual  Eradication of Bovine Brucellosis and Tuberculosis  was 
offered to 21 veteri nary doctor s in private and government practice . The workshop was  based on 
procedural manuals for handling both diseases . G/SPS/GEN/1732  
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  1.26.   In Guatemala, at the  Agrovisi on Expo, OIRSA gave a talk on the Programme for the Control 
and Gradual Eradication of Bovine Brucellosis and Tubercul osis, to 60 persons , including livestock 
farmer s, veterinarians , technic al personnel  and students  of veterinary medicine . 
1.27.   In El Salvador , OIRSA organized  a workshop on procedur al manuals for the control and 
gradual e radication of bovine brucellosis and tuberculosis , within the framework of the adoption of 
a new strategy . Fourteen  veterinar y doctors  from the Salvadoran Ministry of Agriculture and 
Livestock (MAG)  attended the workshop.  
2  SUPPORT FOR THE HARMONIZATION AND EQUIVALENCE PROCESS  
2.1.  OIRSA conducted a  regional risk analysis on African Giant Snails . 
2.2.  Honduras received support to update a manual of procedures on plant quarantine at borders.  
2.3.  Support was granted to Guatemala  to define strategies for increasing its active and effective 
participation in the technical subcommittees of the Co dex Alimentarius.  
2.4.  Eight working sessions of the National Veterinary Drug Committe e were organized  for the 
purpose of harmonizing criteria for the  implementation of the Central American Technical Regulation 
on Veterinary Drugs , and revising  the Central American Customs Union's Technical R egulation o n 
Animal Feed. 
2.5.  Support was granted to El Salvador for the completion of Salvadoran Technical Regulation 
(RTS) No. 65.05.01.19 on the epidemiological surveillance and prevention of bovine spongiform 
encephalopathy (BSE) and other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) . 
2.6.  OIRSA supported El Salvador in its process of discussi on and analy sis of RTS No. 65.05.02:19  
on the  national identification and traceability system for livestock, apiculture, poultry and 
aquaculture  products.  
2.7.  The regional project for the accreditation of laboratory diagnostic tests for animal diseases 
(STDF /PG/495) took place  from June to September  2019. 
3  PREVENTION, CONTROL AND ERADICATION ACTIVITIES (PROGRAMMES OR 
CAMPAIGNS)  
3.1.  In light of the warning of the presence of Foc TR4 in Colombia, OIRSA arranged for regional 
officials in the field of agriculture  to meet in Ecuador.  At that meeting, the heads of a griculture and 
livestock  portfolios in  the OIRSA region  stressed  that given the threat they faced, the strengthening 
of phytosanitary, biosafety and diagnostic surveillance  of Foc TR4 was vital . 
3.2.  The pocket manual on biosafety on pig farms was updated and printed.  
3.3.  Diagnostic kits for classical swine fever  were acquired and distributed to re inforce the 
epidemiological surveillance work carried out by OIRSA member  countries . 
3.4.  Talks were held on African swine fever, its current status, and  measures to strengthen the  
prevention of the disease in the region.  
3.5.  OIRSA v isited farms and the Co sta Rica n genetics centre , under the epidemiological 
surveillance programme for vesicular  diseases , and gave a presentation on cross -border animal 
diseases, with emphasis on vesicular diseases and African swine fever.  
3.6.  Technical and financial support w ere granted for the implementat ion of the Programme for the 
Control and Gradual Eradication of Bovine Brucellosis and Tuberculosis  in Guatemala, and for the 
acquisition of diagnostic materials, rea gents and kits for both diseases.  G/SPS/GEN/1732  
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  3.7.  Nets and materials for the capture of vampire bats were acquired and distributed , in support 
of national programmes for the control of bovine paralytic rabies in  Honduras, Guate mala, 
El Salvador and Nicaragua.  
3.8.  Kits for the  diagn osis of bovine brucellosis were acquired and distributed in tandem with  the 
implementation of the national programme for the gradual control of the disease in  El Salvador.  
3.9.  Support and follow -up in the implementation of the regional plan for the prevention, control, 
eradication and strengthening of surveillance of avian  influenza H5N2  increased by 65% for each  
country.  
4  STRENGTHENING OF NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN ORDER TO FACILITATE TRADE  
4.1.  El Salvador was giv en support for developing a plan for monitoring residues in foods of animal 
origin, in order to avoid export restriction s on dairy products intended for the export market.  
4.2.  Countries in the regi on were assist ed in establish ing regional ba selines for heavy metal content 
in food (cadmium in c ocoa and arsenic in rice) ; similarly, they were supported in the accreditation 
of tests for cadmium in cocoa and arsenic in rice , according to ISO 17025 -2017.  
4.3.  Nicaragua and Panam a received support for th e compilation  and revision of their applications 
concerning classical swine fever (CSF), which were submitted to the OIE by the official authorities.  
4.4.   The heads of animal health programmes at the Ministry  of Agriculture, Livestock and Food 
(MAGA)  were trained in the design and development of results -based programmes.  
4.5.  Eight sessions of the National Swine Technical Commission were organized to prepare the 
CSF application for Guatemala to receive OIE recognition as a country free from this disease.  
4.6.  A meeti ng was held with the authorities of SENASICA in Mexico to contribute to the 
regularization of the movement of live animals  at borders.  
4.7.  OIRSA delivered a bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) diagnostic kit to  the MAGA  animal 
health laboratory  in Guatemala , in support of the epidemiological surveillance efforts carried out in 
Belize, El Salvador and Guatemala . 
5  STRATEGIC ALLIANCES FOR THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND TRADE  
5.1.  OIRSA and ICDF/ Chinese Taipei signed a letter of unde rstanding for the development of joint 
cooperation for the integrated management of citrus pests from 2019 to 2022 , with respect to the 
detection of diseases affecting citrus crops.  Support is also given to government laboratories for the 
implementation of  new diagnostic techniques for pathogens and a system f or sowing  healthy plants 
certified in countries of the  OIRSA region . 
5.2.  OIRSA, in conjunction with FAO, granted s upport to the  Ecuadorian Agency for Agricultural 
Product Quality Assurance (AGROCALIDAD)  for the development of the second national simulation  
exercise to assess response capacity and  minimize the risk of entry of Fusarium oxysporum  f.sp. 
cubense  Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4). 
5.3.  In Ecuador, OIRSA organiz ed a technical mis sion to support  AGROCALIDAD in its efforts to 
prevent the entry of the fungus Fusarium oxysporum  f. sp. cubense  Tropical  Race 4  into Ecuadorian 
territory.  
5.4.  OIRSA particip ated in a seminar  on the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) i n Mexico, 
organiz ed by the Sinaloa State Plant Health Committee , at which  technic ians from the National 
Agriculture and Food Health, Safety and Quality Service (SENASICA)  gave presentation s on the 
symptoms, harm and ident ification of the genus Tobamovirus , with a special focus on  the Tomato 
Brown Rugose Fruit Virus.  
5.5.  OIRSA participated in the 8th Ecuadorian Potato Congress , under the theme  "Food Sovereignty 
and Nutrition", organized by the International  Potato Center (CIP), the Technical University of G/SPS/GEN/1732  
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  Ambato  (UTA), and the National Agricultural Research Institute  (INIAP), among others . There was 
discussion on the strategies for the integrated management of the pest " potato purple -top wilt 
phytoplasma"  (PMP), an issue that is being addressed by OIRSA in Mexico, Centr al America and the 
Dominican  Republic. 
5.6.  OIRSA took part in the 55th Annual M eeting of the Caribbean Food Crops Society , at which 
more than 100 presenters dealt with t opics including  the tomato leaf miner , the African Giant Snail , 
and food production in a controlled and safe environment . 
5.7.  Support was given to the Ministries of Agriculture and Livestock in Costa Rica and El Salvador 
for non -intrusive inspections by canine units belonging to  Guatemala and Honduras, for a period of 
ten days in each country, at the Juan Santamaría airport in Costa Rica and the El Salvador 
International Airport.  
5.8.  During the seminar  "Better Training for Safer Food ", held in Costa Rica on the  use of the  
Trade  Control and Expert System (TRACES) of certification and information developed by 
European  Union health authorities, OIRSA raised the possibility, with the officials representing the 
Directorate -General for Health,  of establishing alliances with OIRSA for continu ed training in the 
region on TRACE S and on EU health legislation.  
 
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