G/SPS/GEN/1476  
8 March 2016  
(16-1339)  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 65TH MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY 
MEASURES NOVEMBER 2015 TO JANUARY 2016 
The following communication, received on 3 March 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 in 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 
SEPA and SITC Honduras. 
1.6.  Virtual training in 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 held for technical staff from the Ministry of Agricultur al 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 in shoot tip grafting and the production of healthy citrus 
plants. 
1.10.  One workshop on healthy citrus plant production and four on recognition of the symptoms of 
HLB were held in Guatemala. G/SPS/GEN/1476 
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  1.11.  Two training workshops on healthy citrus plan t production and regulations and one on the 
integrated management of citrus  HLB 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 the identification of the disease citrus HLB and recognition of 
the vector were conducted in Nicaragua. 
1.14.  Three training workshops on recognition of the symptomatology, control strategies and 
monitoring of the psyllid in HLB were held in Panama. 
1.15.  Nine training workshops relating to the diagnosis and management of citrus HLB were held 
in the Dominican Republic. 
1.16.  A regional course on training for trainers in  good agricultural and manufacturing practices 
and the safety of fresh fruit and vegetables was delivered in Honduras for a total of 67 technical 
personnel in the public and private sectors. 
1.17.  A regional course on training for trainers in  good agricultural and manufacturing practices 
and the safety of fresh fruit and vegetables was de livered in the Dominican Republic for a total of 
40 technical personnel, including safety inspectors, MAG staff responsible for organization and training, agronomy faculty lecturers, and technical staff employed by companies producing fresh 
fruit and vegetables for export. 
1.18.  A regional course on the inspection of bovine meat and bovine meat products, for purposes 
of export to the European Union, was delivered in Nicaragua and attended by a total of 11 technical specialists from the public and private sectors of the member countries and OIRSA. 
1.19.  A training course on the validation of tests for generic E. coli and Salmonella 
and 45 pesticides in fruit and vegetables using the QuEChERS method was held in the Dominican Republic for three LAVECEN laboratory technicians, three specialists in generic E. coli and 
Salmonella, and three specialists in pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables. 
1.20.  A regional refresher course on agricultural quarantine procedures in ports and airports and 
at land borders was held with the support of Mexico's SENASICA, providing training for a total 
of 55 officials from Ministries/Sec retariats of Agriculture, SITC and SEPA and university lecturers. 
1.21.  A theoretical and practical workshop on the us e of the distance diagnostics through digital 
imaging (DDDI) platform was held in Guatemala for 18 agricultural quarantine inspectors, three diagnostic laboratory staff and five representatives of local universities. 
1.22.  The Fourth Australian DAFF Standard Workshop was held in Guatemala. Training in carrying 
out audits on import and export fumigation procedures in connection with sanitary and 
phytosanitary measures was provided for 35 agricultural protection services (SEPA) officials and 
two officials from the Vice-Ministry of Agri cultural Health and Regulations (VISAR). 
1.23.  In Panama, a workshop on the description, use and management of distance diagnostics 
through digital imaging (DDDI) was organized for 13 officials from the Executive Directorate for 
Agricultural Quarantine. 
1.24.  Also in Panama, a regional workshop on the packaging and shipment of infectious samples – 
IATA standards was held for a total of 14 technical staff from the official laboratories of the OIRSA member countries. 
2  SUPPORT FOR THE HARMONIZATION PROCESS AND EQUIVALENCE 
2.1.  A handbook on the integrated management of the tomato moth (Tuta absoluta) was 
compiled. G/SPS/GEN/1476 
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  2.2.  A handbook on the complex Bactericera cockerelli and Candidatus liberibacter solaneacearum 
(Zebra Chip) was prepared. 
2.3.  The Latin American action plan for the preventi on of and preparation against 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 pests tomato moth (Tuta absoluta) and the Bactericera cockerelli 
and Candidatus liberibacter solaneacearum comple x (Zebra Chip) were prep ared for dissemination. 
2.6.  A workshop on the preparation of a handbook on the integrated management of tar spot in 
maize in the OIRSA region was held in Guatemala City, Guatemala. 
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.  A second edition of the Protocol on the produc tion of healthy citrus plants was prepared. 
2.9.  Outreach materials relating to the use of the iodine-starch technique, healthy plant 
production and biological control were developed and delivered. 
2.10.  Support was provided for the VIIth Round of Customs Union between Honduras and 
Guatemala, in which all the integrated groups set up to achieve the objective of full customs union 
participated. 
2.11.  A Protocol on the determination of the dose rate and exposure times for 100% 
methyl bromide in the treatment of roundwood and sawn timber for the purpose of eliminating 
immature and adult states of southern pine beetles was developed. 
2.12.  The organization of the XXIst Seminar on Harmonization of the Registration and Control of 
Veterinary Medicines, CAMEVET/OIE, was supported and co-sponsored. 
2.13.  Support was provided for the revision and adaptation of the handbook of procedures 
pertaining to the regional progressive control prog ramme for brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis in 
Honduras. 
2.14.  An outline Regional Health Programme for Backyard Poultry, phase 2 (PRESAAT 2) was 
developed. 
2.15.  Primers on the endemic and transboundary diseases of the shrimp were prepared. 
2.16.  Outreach materials (posters) on the commonest  diseases of the shrimp were developed. 
2.17.  Outreach materials (videos) to raise awareness among travelers with regard to the 
importance of preventing the introduction of f oot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever and 
screw-worm were designed. 
3  PREVENTION, CONTROL AND ERADICATION ACTIVITIES (PROGRAMMES OR 
CAMPAIGNS) 
3.1.  In the annual assessment of the national fruit fly programme, carried out by the Ministry of 
Agricultural Development with the participation of APHIS-USDA and OIRSA, the Anastrepha 
grandis  situation was addressed. 
3.2.  The Ministry of Agriculture of El Salvador received support with the development of an 
emergency plan before the appearance of the pest yellow sorghum aphid ( Melanaphis sacchari ). G/SPS/GEN/1476 
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  3.3.  OIRSA participated in the regional pest risk 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 on the management of the southern pine 
beetle ( Dendroctonus frontalis ). 
3.6.  The SAT for coffee rust and the coffee berry borer was implemented with the CoHonducafé 
foundation of Honduras. 
3.7.  I n  v i e w  o f  t h e  m e a s u r e s  i m p o s e d  b y  t h e  E u r o p e a n  U n i o n ,  a  r e g i o n a l  w o r k s h o p  o n  
epidemiological surveillance and the diagnosis of Xylella fastidiosa  was held in Tecámac, Mexico, in 
connection with the temporary interruption of exports of ornamental coffee plants from Honduras and of other species of Guatemalan and Costa Rican origin. 
3.8.  A plan for the eradication of low-pathogenicity H5N2 avian influenza was developed for 
Guatemala. 
3.9.  Kits for diagnosing PPC (antigen-antibody capture) and compatible diseases were acquired. 
3.10.  Follow-up was provided for inter-laboratory PPC tests between CENSA (Cuba) and the 
official animal health laboratories of Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras. 
3.11.  Support was provided for the acquisition of tissue processors for the diagnosis of bovine 
spongiform encephalopathy in Guatemala and Honduras. 
4  STRENGTHENING OF NATIONAL INSTITUTIO NS IN ORDER TO FACILITATE TRADE 
4.1.  In Honduras, seed potato importers were offered technical assistance with regard to the 
quarantine procedures applicable to such imports. 
4.2.  In Costa Rica, support was provided for a field study in connection with the formulation of the 
"Project for Building the Capacity of the State Phytosanitary Service for the Inspection of 
Containerized Cargo". 
4.3.  Belize was offered technical assistance with the analysis of information on the outbreaks of 
low-pathogenicity avian influenza in 2015. 
4.4.  Guatemala was offered technical assistance in connection with the programme for the 
eradication of classical swine fever. 
4.5.  OIRSA took part in an audit of animal welfare in the transport and slaughter of bovine cattle 
in Nicaragua and Panama. 
4.6.  In Honduras, the pilot project on the progressive control of brucellosis and bovine 
tuberculosis on farms of members of the Associatio n of Livestock and Crop Farmers of Sula (AGAS) 
was revised and a meeting was held with AGAS executives. 
4.7.  Recommendations were made concerning the ma nagement of the buffer zone between Haiti 
and the Dominican Republic and pig farm biosecurity. 
5  STRATEGIC ALLIANCES FOR THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND TRADE 
5.1.  OIRSA took part in the 27
th Technical Consultation among Regional Plant Protection 
Organizations, held in Memphis, Tennessee for the purpose of reviewing the activities of the RPPOs 
in relation to phytosanitary measures. 
5.2.  OIRSA coordinated with the Secretariat of the Inter-American Coordinating Group on Plant 
Protection (ICGPP) on the organization of virtual meetings to examine the agenda for the revision G/SPS/GEN/1476 
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  of the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) put out for consultation by the 
IPPC, as well as the comments on the annexes to the standards. 
5.3.  A meeting was held in San Salvador with representatives of the member RPPOs to discuss 
comments on the draft ISPMs being processed with in the remit of the IPPC Standards Committee. 
5.4.  A Latin American workshop was organized in Lima , Peru, jointly with the IPPC, to review first 
drafts of the International Standards on Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) submitted for consultation in 2015 by the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). 
The workshop was attended by representative s of the OIRSA and Andean Community member 
countries and by representatives of COSAVE. 
5.5.  OIRSA attended the Inter-American Meeting of National Animal and Plant Health and Food 
Safety Services, held in Brasilia, Brazil, where it took part in panel 4, which dealt with the topic 
"Strategic vision of the regional organizations for addressing the challenges in the area of trade". 
5.6.  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. 
5.7.  OIRSA took part in a virtual meeting on initiatives to prevent and mitigate FOC R4T in 
Latin America and the Caribbean. 
5.8.  An OIRSA-SENASICA/SAGARPA/Mexico meeting was held to coordinate phytosanitary 
measures applied in the OIRSA region. 
5.9.  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 and PROMECAFE, was held in Managua, Nicaragua. 
5.10.  OIRSA and FEDAVICAC signed an agreement on  strengthening the region's avian health 
programmes. 
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