G/SPS/GEN/1495  
17 June 2016  
(16-3314)  Page: 1/6  
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 66TH MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE ON 
SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
FEBRUARY-MAY 2016 
The following communication, received on 16 June 2016, 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 El Salvador, technical staff and producers received training on dealing with the yellow 
sorghum aphid pest. 
1.2.  A regional workshop on the integrated management of the rice mite was held in 
San Salvador, El Salvador. The workshop was a ttended by delegates from the Ministries and 
Secretariats of Agriculture of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic, as well as local producers. 
1.3.  Virtual training was provided in the use and management of the CABI and CAB-Abstracts 
databases. 
1.4.  Virtual training concerning the early warning system for coffee rust was provided for technical 
staff from Agrocalidad, Ecuador. 
1.5.  A training workshop on preventive measures for FOC R4T was held fo r technical staff from 
the Agricultural Protection Service (SEPA) and the International Quarantine Treatment Service 
(SITC) of Honduras. 
1.6.  Virtual training on the IT system developed for planning, monitoring and evaluating OIRSA 
projects was provided for regional international organizations and coffee institutes. 
1.7.  A training workshop entitled "Techniques for breeding and reproducing parasitoids for 
biologically controlling the coffee borer: an environmentally friendly control strategy" was 
organized for technical staff from the Ministry of Agricultural Development and the Dominican 
Coffee Council. 
1.8.  In El Salvador, a training workshop on phytosanitary management in the coffee sector was 
held for technical staff (25 outreach workers) from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and 
the Coffee Division of the National Agricultur al and Forest Technology Centre (CENTA). 
1.9.  In Belize, training was provided on shoot tip grafting and the production of healthy citrus 
plants. G/SPS/GEN/1495 
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  1.10.  A workshop on healthy citrus plant production and four workshops on recognizing the 
symptoms of HLB were held in Guatemala. 
1.11.  Two training workshops on healthy citrus plant production and regulations and one on 
integrated citrus HLB management were held in Honduras. 
1.12.  Seven training workshops on the symptomato logy of HLB and control strategies were 
organized in El Salvador. 
1.13.  Eight training workshops on identifying citrus HLB and recognizing its vector were held in 
Nicaragua. 
1.14.  In Panama, three training workshops were held on symptomatology recognition, control 
strategies and monitoring in respect of the psyllid in HLB. 
1.15.  Nine training workshops on the diagnosis and management of citrus HLB were held in the 
Dominican Republic. 
1.16.  In El Salvador, Panama, Guatemala and Honduras, specialists from Chinese Taipei provided 
technical advice on healthy plant production, integrated HLB management, phytosanitary 
surveillance and diagnosis to citrus fruit growers, nursery workers and technical staff within the 
framework of the OIRSA-Chinese Taipei/ICDF HLB project. 
1.17.  A regional workshop on healthy citrus plan t production, looking at integrated pest 
management (IPM) and the results of the 2016 OIRSA-Chinese Taipei/ICDF HLB project, was held 
in the city of La Ceiba, Honduras. It was atte nded by technical staff representing the OIRSA 
member country beneficiaries of the HLB project. 
1.18.  In Panama, a workshop on HLB management and healthy plant production was organized 
for regional coordinators and technical staff from the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA). 
1.19.  In El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama, technical staff from the official 
laboratories of the Ministries of Agriculture of these countries received training in the following 
areas: basic diagnostic techniques for HLB under the Chinese Taipei protocol; the sterilization of 
material for DNA extraction; and specific laboratory procedures such as the treatment of incoming samples, the preparation of samples, and DNA extraction. 
1.20.  A workshop on citrus HLB diagnosis and management was organized in the 
Dominican Republic for 14 producers and 13 specialists working in citrus fruit production. 
1.21.  At the national poultry seminar in Panama, OIRSA gave a presentation to more than 
200 officials from the public and productive sectors on epidemiological surveillance for 
strengthening poultry production units. 
1.22.  Three OIRSA officials took part in a training session on strengthening the laboratory 
diagnosis of diseases in the livestock sector (poultry farming, pig farming, aquaculture and 
beekeeping). The event was held at the Integral  Unit for Service, Diagnosis and Verification 
(UISDC) in Tecámac, Mexico State. 
1.23.  In El Salvador, the second "Pioneers of Beekeeping" programme was organized for 
producers and technical staff from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), the honey 
subsector, the USAID scheme for the development of SMEs, and OIRSA. 
1.24.  The first workshop on anti-microbial resistance, entitled "Monitoring of the resistance 
of important anti-microbial agents in human and veterinary medicine", was held in Guatemala. 
It was attended by 60 experts in human and ve terinary medicine, including pharmaceutical 
chemists and biologists. 
1.25.  OIRSA took part in the Agromercados international agricultural fair in San Pedro Sula, 
Honduras, with a presentation on the progressive control of bovine brucellosis and tuberculosis in 
the region. G/SPS/GEN/1495 
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  1.26.  In El Salvador, at the request of the veterinary services, OIRSA took part in the 
departmental meeting of the San Miguel Livestock Producers Association (AGES), where it gave a presentation on the regional strategy for the progressive control of bovine brucellosis, with 
a view to regionalizing, promoting and re-orientating the current bovine brucellosis and 
tuberculosis control programme. 
1.27.  OIRSA worked together with the IICA to design  and hold an online training course for 
trainers in good agricultural practices. 204 Latin American participants from the public, private and 
academic sectors, and professional associations in the fields of agronomy, veterinary medicine and 
animal husbandry, benefited from the course. 
1.28.  Six courses on risk analysis in respect of foodborne diseases were organized in coordination 
with PRACAMS. The courses were attended by 1 16 people, including Ministry of Agriculture and 
public health officials, research centre staff, university professors and technical staff from 
eight countries in the OIRSA region. 
1.29.  In El Salvador, 32 veterinarians from the beneficiary countries participated in a regional 
workshop on the epidemiological surveillance of transboundary diseases using mobile 
communication devices. 
1.30.  Audiovisual material was designed and produced  to raise the awareness of travellers and 
field technicians in respect of the importance of preventing the entry of foot-and-mouth disease, 
screw worm and classical swine fever. 
2  SUPPORT FOR THE HARMONIZATION PROCESS AND EQUIVALENCE 
2.1.  A handbook was compiled on the integr ated management of tomato moths ( Tuta absoluta ). 
2.2.  A handbook was prepared on the Bactericera cockerelli  and Candidatus liberibacter 
solaneacearum complex (Zebra Chip). 
2.3.  The Latin American action plan to prevent and prepare for Panama disease ( fusarium 
oxysporum  f. sp. cubense ) tropical race 4 was revised and updated. 
2.4.  An information leaflet on the yellow sorghum aphid was produced in El Salvador. 
2.5.  Outreach materials on the tomato moth ( Tuta absoluta ) and the Bactericera cockerelli  and 
Candidatus  liberibacter solaneacearum complex (Zebra Chip) were prepared for dissemination. 
2.6.  A workshop was held in Guatemala City, Guatemala, to prepare a handbook on the integrated 
management of tar spot in maize in the OIRSA region. 
2.7.  A follow-up workshop on the compilation of a regional list of regulated quarantine pests was 
also held in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The work shop was attended by plant health directors and 
officials from the risk analysis units of the epidemiological monitoring and plant quarantine departments and units of the nine OIRSA member countries. 
2.8.  OIRSA drafted a second edition of the protocol on the production of healthy citrus plants. 
2.9.  Outreach materials on the use of the iodine-starch technique, healthy plant production and 
biological control were developed and delivered. 
2.10.  Three documents on acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) in shrimp have been 
updated: the Regional AHPND Prevention and Cont rol Plan, the Regional AHPND Plan Procedural 
Manual, and the AHPND Epidemiological Surveillance Programme. 
2.11.  Biosecurity inspection forms for broiler chickens from the countries of the OIRSA region 
were harmonized at a regular meeting of the Re gional Technical Committee on Poultry Health 
(CTRSA) in San Salvador, El Salvador. G/SPS/GEN/1495 
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  2.12.  OIRSA is revising the first chapter of the first draft of the document that is being prepared 
by the Nicaraguan Animal Health Directorate to request that the country be internationally recognized by the OIE as free from classical swine fever. 
2.13.  Technical support was given to Guatemala to implement epidemiological surveillance 
activities with a view to the country declaring itself free of classical swine fever. 
2.14.  In Panama, OIRSA, in conjunction with the National Technical Commission on Swine 
(COTENAPOR), has developed rules on import requirements for live pigs. 
2.15.  A handbook of good practices was drawn up to ensure animal welfare during the 
pre-slaughter process for cattle and has been distributed to OIRSA member countries. 
2.16.  A handbook of good practices was drawn up fo r establishments engaged in the slaughter, 
cutting and boning of cattle, with a view to the exporting of meat and meat products to the 
European Union. This handbook has been distributed to OIRSA member countries. 
2.17.  A variety of training materials have been prepared (3,000 leaflets on traceability and a 
beekeepers handbook). 
3  PREVENTION, CONTROL AND ERADICATION ACTIVITIES (PROGRAMMES OR 
CAMPAIGNS) 
3.1.  The situation regarding Anastrepha grandis  was addressed in the annual assessment of the 
Panamanian national fruit fly programme, carried out by the Ministry of Agricultural Development 
with the participation of APHIS-USDA and OIRSA. 
3.2.  The Ministry of Agriculture of El Salvador rece ived support in developing an emergency plan 
to deal with the ye llow sorghum aphid ( Melanaphis sacchari ). 
3.3.  OIRSA took part in a regional pest ri sk analysis workshop in Guatemala. 
3.4.  OIRSA participated in the meeting of the Honduran FOC R4T technical group. 
3.5.  Meetings were held to prepare a preliminary draft text on southern pine beetle ( Dendroctonus 
frontalis ) management. 
3.6.  The early warning system for coffee rust and the coffee berry borer was implemented with 
the CoHonducafé foundation of Honduras. 
3.7.  A regional workshop on epidemiological surveillance and the diagnosis of Xylella fastidiosa  
was held in Mexico. 
3.8.  In Honduras, a healthy citrus plant production greenhouse (level 3) was opened at the 
Atlantic Coast Regional University Centre (CURLA) in the city of La Ceiba. The greenhouse has 
a production capacity of 60,000 certified healthy citrus plants a year. 
3.9.  In Panama, OIRSA supported the implementation of an action plan for controlling the HLB 
outbreak in the province of Bocas del Toro, and field studies for the detection of symptoms in 
various areas of the province. 
3.10.  A document was drawn up entitled "Work plan for the eradication of low-pathogenicity H5N2 
avian influenza in Guatemala". 
3.11.  In El Salvador and Nicaragua, traps for controlling Aethina tumida  were purchased and 
distributed with a view to strengthening the epidemiological surveillance of this pest. 
3.12.  OIRSA monitored epidemiological surveillance programmes for classical swine fever in 
El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama. G/SPS/GEN/1495 
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  3.13.  A final workshop for the project on strengthenin g the bovine paralytic rabies prevention and 
control system (FAO/OIRSA/OIE/PANVET, FAO project TCP/RLA/3501) was held at OIRSA 
headquarters. Participants included the official veterinary services of Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Peru. 
3.14.  A study was carried out to determine the animal population and risk areas around sites 
where waste from ports and airports of the participant countries is deposited. 
3.15.  Materials and reagents were purchased and di stributed to prepare for the transportation 
of vesicular disease samples (phosphate-buffered glycerol). 
4  STRENGTHENING OF NATIONAL INSTITUTIO NS IN ORDER TO FACILITATE TRADE 
4.1.  A regional fund was established for maintaining greenhouses built under the 
OIRSA-ICDF-Chinese Taipei project on foundatio n stock, healthy HLB-free plant production and 
shoot multiplication. 
4.2.  Support has been given to Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico for submitting 
project profiles to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the strengthening of actions 
to control bovine brucellosis in Central American countries. 
4.3.  OIRSA has worked with FAO to develop diagnost ic surveys for the implementation of a plan 
to support the progressive control of bovine brucellosis in the countries of the OIRSA region. 
4.4.  In Panama, support was provided to upgrade Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) 
laboratory equipment used to analyse residues in products of animal origin. 
4.5.  OIRSA began implementing the project on honey chain traceability in Guatemala 
(STDF/PG/515) in order to support the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA). 
4.6.  OIRSA launched a regional project for the accreditation of laboratory diagnostic tests for 
animal diseases (SDTF/PG/495). 
5  STRATEGIC ALLIANCES FOR THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND TRADE 
5.1.  A meeting was held in San Salvador with repr esentatives of the national plant protection 
organizations (NPPOs) of member countries to discuss comments on the draft ISPMs being processed within the remit of the IPPC Standards Committee. 
5.2.  A Technical Meeting on Inter-Institutional Coordination and Liaison among 
IICA-OIRSA-CATIE-FAO was held for the purpose of expanding and improving inter-institutional coordination and liaison in order to enhance the comparative and joint advantages of technical assistance for countries and the region. 
5.3.  OIRSA took part in a virtual meeting on initiatives to prevent and mitigate FOC R4T in 
Latin America and the Caribbean. 
5.4.  An OIRSA-SENASICA/SAGARPA/Mexico meeting was held to coordinate phytosanitary 
measures applied in the OIRSA region. 
5.5.  The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) and OIRSA held a meeting to 
coordinate the development of phytosanitary projects for the region. 
5.6.  A workshop on agency integration for formulatin g the 2015-2016 action plan of the regional 
strategy for strengthening coffee growing, an initiative led by the Central American Agricultural Council (CAC) and PROMECAFE, was held in Managua, Nicaragua. 
5.7.  In Nicaragua, a specific agreement on technical and academic cooperation was concluded 
between the Catholic University of Dry Tropic Farming and OIRSA, within the framework of the 
OIRSA-Chinese Taipei-ICDF HLB project. This agreement concerned the installation of a G/SPS/GEN/1495 
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  greenhouse (net house) for the transfer of production technology and the sale of healthy citrus 
plants. 
5.8.  Implementation of the OIRSA-USDA cooper ation agreement on the strengthening of 
epidemiological surveillance for foot-and-mouth  disease, screwworm and other transboundary 
animal diseases. 
5.9.  The handbook on taking and forwarding samples for vesicular diseases was revised and 
updated. 
5.10.  Evaluation of the application of Standard CWA 15793:2013 (Laboratory Biorisk Management 
Standard) by the Diagnostic Laboratory for Vesicular Diseases (LADIVES) in Panama. 
5.11.  Evaluation of LADIVES infrastructure (Panama) , with a view to ascertaining the level of 
compliance of the BSL-3 laboratory, on the basis of the World Health Organization's Laboratory 
Biosafety Manual, in order to ensure the proper management of foot-and-mouth disease. 
5.12.  OIRSA is working with the University of Minnesota in the United States and the Andrés Bello 
University in Chile to prepare a protocol that ma kes it possible to examine and determine the risk 
factors that contribute to the development of a num ber of diseases in farmed shrimp in the region. 
5.13.  Training was given at OIRSA headquarters in  San Salvador, El Salvador, to veterinary 
medicine and animal husbandry students from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala (USAC) 
as part of their professional work experience. 38 students and three teachers participated in this 
activity. 
5.14.  Integration of the 2016-2017 CAC–OIRSA–IICA region al action plan on agricultural health 
and food safety. 
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