G/SPS/GEN/1636  
 
26 July 2018  
(18-4752) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  AND CO -OPERATION  
INFORMATION FROM MEM BERS  
FORMAL MEETING OF THE WTO SPS COMMI TTEE – 12 JULY 2018  
Communication from Belize  
The following communication, received on 24 July 2018, is being circu lated at the request of the 
Delegation of Belize . 
 
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1. Belize was able to attend a workshop on "Regional Pest Risk Analysis for the Khapra Beetle 
(Trogoderma granarium )" which was held in Veracruz, Mexico on 25 -26 June 2018. This workshop 
was attended by all the International Regiona l Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA) 
member countries except Costa Rica. During the workshop, each representative of the respective 
participating countries gave a presentation that covered the following: (i) phytosanitary 
requirements for the imp ortation of commodities that originate from countries where  T. granarium  
is present or suspected to be present; (ii) actions that are officially carried out for the detection of 
the pest; (iii) the history of interceptions of  T. granarium ; (iv) capacity fo r detection and timely 
action that guarantees the exclusion of the pest from his/her country; (v) notification; and 
(vi) actions taken when  T. granarium  is intercepted in imported commodities at points of entry.  
2. A preliminary list of experts (in diagnostics, control of outbreaks, surveillance, pest risk 
analysis, and phytosanitary treatments) from the OIRSA region, was compiled in an effort to 
eventually form a Regional Commando Group for khapra beetle.   
3. During t hat same week (27 -29 June 2018), an epidemiological simulation exercise, 
pertaining to the same pest, was conducted in and near the Port of Veracruz. Participants in this 
event included: OIRSA 's Regional Group for Pest Risk Analysis;  Veracruz' s State Commi ttee for 
Plant Health; Directorate of the National Centre for Phytosanitary Reference of Mexico; National 
Service for Agricultural Health, Food Safety and Food Quality (SENASICA); Sub -Directorate of 
Inspection of Ports and Airports of Mexico; and the Offic e of Inspection of Agricultural Health of 
Veracruz, among others.  
4. After several presentations that focused on the khapra beetle, participants were taken to the 
Port of Veracruz and surrounding areas where pheromone traps (Storgard KB/WB with Dome) 
were set  near grain silos, and buildings used to store hosts of the khapra beetle. The traps were 
inspected the following day and the insects captured were viewed and discussed. The program 
used to record the surveillance data, and how the data was linked and capt ured on the map of the 
area, was demonstrated and appreciated.  
5. Belize thanks OIRSA for sponsoring its participation in both events which was important in 
trying to keep the OIRSA region free from the khapra beetle ( Trogoderma granarium ). 
6. Belize thanks the WTO for funding Belize and the other 18 participants to be able to return 
to Geneva and attend the Follow -up Session of the 2017 Advanced Course on the WTO Agreement 
on the Application of SPS measures. Participants of the Advanced Course were able to retur n and 
report on the positive efforts made and being made in their respective countries as a result of the G/SPS/GEN/1636   
 
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  knowledge gained during the SPS Advanced Course. Each participant presented on advancements 
made in carrying out their action plans. Participants of t he Advanced Course were able to 
participate actively in the Workshop on Control, Inspection and Approval Procedures, as well as the 
informal and formal meetings of the SPS Committee.    
7. Finally, Belize would like to express sincere gratitude to  the Inter-American Institute for 
Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) for partial funding to assist the SPS Committee meeting . 
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