G/SPS/GEN/1257  
21 June 2013  
(13-3226)  Page: 1/4  
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 57TH MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE 
ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
27 AND 28 JUNE 2013 
The following communication, received on 20 June 2013, is being circulated at the request 
of OIRSA. 
 
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1  TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES RELATING 
TO AGRICULTURAL HEALTH AND TRADE 
1.1.  The updated food safety regulations of the United States of America (Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA), Food Safety and Inspec tion Service (FSIS), Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA)), the European Union (DG-SANCO),  the Codex Alimentarius and the OIE were 
compiled and circulated to OIRSA member countries. 
1.2.  In El Salvador, the Xth Central American and Caribbean Conference on Apiculture Integration 
and Updating was held, in coordination with the Central American and Caribbean Beekeepers' Federation (FEDECCAPI). 
1.3.  A strategic planning workshop for animal health diagnostic laboratories was held 
in El Salvador. 
1.4.  In Honduras, in coordination with SENASA/SAG'S  Food Safety Division, training was given 
on food safety in connection with the project to strengthen safety certification schemes 
for agricultural products from small and medium-sized producers. 
1.5.  Also in Honduras, in coordination with offici als from SENASA/SAG's Animal Health Division 
and the National Association of Fish Farmers of Honduras (ANDAH), the first regional simulation 
on the early mortality syndrome (EMS) or acute hepatopancreatic necrosis syndrome (AHPNS) 
in shrimps was held. 
1.6.  In Honduras, a technical meeting was held to analyse and communicate Annex IV 
on microbiological risks for melons in the Codex Alimentarius Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh 
Fruit and Vegetables, in coordination with SENASA's Food Safety Division. 
1.7.  A training programme for technicians and producers in managing, controlling and monitoring 
pests and diseases in oil palms was held in Honduras. 
1.8.  A workshop was held in Guatemala on detecting pathogenic agents in shrimps, using fresh 
screening as a diagnostic tool. G/SPS/GEN/1257 
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  1.9.  Training was given in Guatemala on implementing quality assurance programmes 
for balanced feed. 
1.10.  In Nicaragua, in coordination with the Food Safety Directorate of the Directorate-General 
of Agricultural Protection and Health (DGSPA/MAGIFOR), a regional course was given on hazard 
analysis and critical control points (HACCP) for fisheries and aquaculture products: New Guidelines 
of the United States Food and Drug Administration. 
1.11.  A workshop on phytosanitary quality assurance for seeds was held in Nicaragua 
for producers of certified seeds of basic grains. 
1.12.  In the Dominican Republic, a workshop was held on basic epidemiology for epidemiologists. 
1.13.  National programmes for the control and eradication of Classical Swine Fever 
in the Dominican Republic, Belize, Guatemala and El Salvador were evaluated. 
1.14.  With technical support from Cuba's National Agricultural Health Centre (CENSA), 
OIRSA is implementing a comprehensive programme to improve milk production and quality (PROCAL), which includes: the Codex Alimentarius Good Practices for Milk Production and a move 
towards implementing the Code of Hygienic Prac tice for Milk and Milk Products in primary 
production and collection of milk, following a flexible approach that involves both small producers with rudimentary management practices and larg er producers. At the moment, this transfer 
of technology is taking place in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. 
1.15.  Workshops were held in Honduras, Belize and Pa nama on the design and regional structure 
for campaigns to control Huanglongbing (HLB) in citrus fruit and its vector. 
1.16.  Poultry-breeding health education and communication campaigns were conducted 
in El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua. 
1.17.  In coordination with the National Plant Health  Directorate (DNSV/MIDA), training was given 
in Panama on field identification and laboratory diagnosis of Fusarium guttiforme and application 
of phytosanitary epidemiological monitoring of this disease. 
1.18.  As part of the project on strengthening cont rol of Huanglongbing (HLB) and implementation 
of integrated management of citr us fruit diseases in the OIRSA region, which OIRSA is carrying out 
with support from the Government of Chinese Taipei, through the International Development 
and Cooperation Fund (ICDF), a workshop was held there on technology for the prevention of Huanglongbing (HLB) in citrus fruit. This ev ent was attended by 28 technicians from eight 
OIRSA member countries. 
1.19.  OIRSA provided support for participation by OIRSA member countries in the 40
th Regular 
Meeting of the South American Commission for the Fight Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (COSALFA). 
1.20.  A regional emergency plan was drawn up and nati onal plans are being prepared to deal with 
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H7N3). 
1.21.  The following manuals were prepared: Shrimps, Fresh screening, Diagnostic tool; 
Procedures for early mortality syndrome (EMS) in shrimps; Epidemiological monitoring of the early 
mortality syndrome (EMS) in shrimps. 
2  SUPPORT FOR THE HARMONIZATION AND EQUIVALENCE PROCESS 
2.1.  In its capacity as a Regional Plant Protection Organization (RPPO), OIRSA attended 
the annual meeting of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures of the International Plant 
Protection Convention (IPPC). 
2.2.  At the IPPC's invitation, OIRSA attended the meeting of the IPPC's Standards Committee 
as an observer. G/SPS/GEN/1257 
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  2.3.  The Inter-American Development Bank (IaDB) conducted a mid-term evaluation 
of the project on the definition of region al standards and public capacity building 
for the development and implementation of compatible bovine traceability systems in Central American countries, which is being implemented by OIRSA with support from the IaDB. 
The results achieved show that OIRSA is becoming a regional authority on bovine traceability 
and both the public and private sectors have confidence in the work undertaken. 
2.4.  In connection with the aforementioned project,  the Dominican Republic, Belize, Guatemala, 
El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama approved the regional standard 
for bovine traceability. 
3  SUPPORT FOR REGIONALIZATION (ESTABLISHMENT OF PEST-/DISEASE-FREE AND 
LOW-PREVALENCE AREAS, DEVELOPMENT OF PROTOCOLS FOR THEIR RECOGNITION) 
3.1.  In Nicaragua, technical and financial support is still being provided for the programme 
to maintain the area north of Lake Xolotlán as an area free from Ceratitis capitata , 
the citrus leprosis-free area programme and the programme to maintain Nicaragua's status 
as a country free from the pink bollworm. 
3.2.  A contingency plan has been drawn up for Fusarium oxysporum R4T. 
3.3.  A permanent monitoring programme has been in troduced in countries in the OIRSA region 
for tomato leaf miner ( Tuta absoluta ), using trapping and exploration for its early detection. 
3.4.  In Belize, under the project on strengthening control of Huanglongbing (HLB) 
and implementation of integrated management of citrus fruit diseases in the OIRSA region, a greenhouse was inaugurated to supply Belize's citrus industry with 110,000 certified citrus 
plants each year. 
3.5.  In Honduras, support was given to SENASA/SAG fo r preparing a disease risk analysis in order 
to enable palm oil seeds to be allowed into Mexico, and also for the revision of the dossier 
of technical documents submitted to the phytosanitary authorities in Mexico and the United States 
with a view to recognizing the area of the Valle del Aguán as free of Moscamed. 
3.6.  Support was given to El Salvador's sanitary authorities for classification of the eastern part 
of the country as a zone of low prevalence of  brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis in order 
to support exports of live bovine animals to Mexico for fattening. 
4  PREVENTION, CONTROL AND ERADICATION ACTIVITIES (PROGRAMMES 
OR CAMPAIGNS) 
4.1.  The following activities were undertaken in conn ection with implementation of the regional 
programme to provide support for control of coffee leaf rust ( Hemileia vastatrix Berk): 
(a) workshop for communicators to define and harmonize a regional phytosanitary communication 
and disclosure plan for the prevention and control of  coffee leaf rust; (b) transfer of phytosanitary 
campaign methodology for control of coffee leaf rust; and (c) training of technical personnel 
at the Honduran Coffee Institute (IHCAFE) in drawing up a communications strategy. 
4.2.  As part of the TCP/RLA 3311 project on support for OIRSA member countries for the control 
of Huanglongbing (HLB) of citrus fruit, a manual was prepared on taking, forwarding and processing samples for the detection of HLB in countries in the OIRSA region ("http://www.oirsa.org/apli caciones/subidoarchivos/Bibliote caVirtual/Manual-colecta-envio-y-
proc.-de-muestras-para-el-diag.-del-HLB.pdf "). In addition, an early warning platform 
was designed to identify and map citrus plantations,  the presence of the vector insect and of HLB; 
this is a technology that could be repeated for the control of other diseases. For this purpose, 
smart phones and yellow traps have been acquired so that countries use the platform. 
4.3.  In Panama, support is still being given to the campaign to control Anastrepha grandis.  G/SPS/GEN/1257 
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  4.4.  In OIRSA, in coordination with the authorities in its member countries, a regional emergency 
plan for the prevention, control and eradication of  the early mortality syndrome (EMS) in shrimps 
has been developed. 
5  STRENGTHENING OF NATIONAL INSTITUTIO NS IN ORDER TO FACILITATE TRADE 
5.1.  Under the project on the definition of region al standards and public capacity building 
for the development and implementation of compatible bovine traceability schemes in Central American countries, Nicaragua received technical assistance for the development of its 
national bovine traceability scheme. A pilot pr oject for controlling the movement of cattle was 
introduced. 
6  STRATEGIC ALLIANCES FOR THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND TRADE 
6.1.  OIRSA collaborated with the North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) 
in preparing a monitoring protocol for tomato leaf miner ( Tuta absoluta ). 
6.2.  OIRSA, in coordination with the Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH), prepared 
the diagnostic for "bud rot in palmae" (association with the Phytophthora sp., Thielaviopsis 
paradoxa and a bacteria combination), using the RT-PCR technique. 
 
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 In order to comment on this report or obtain additional information, please contact: Edwin Aragón, e-mail: earagon@oirsa.org . 
 
For more information on food safety, please contact: Oscar García, e-mail: ogarcia@oirsa.org . 
 
For any queries on animal health activities, please contact: Abelardo de Gracia, 
e-mail: adegracia@oirsapanama.org.pa . 
 
For further information on plant health, please contact: Jimmy Ruiz, e-mail: jruiz@oirsa.org . 
 
We invite you to visit our website: http://www.oirsa.org/ 
 
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