G/SPS/GEN/1319  
19 March 2014  
(14-1727)  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 COMMITTEE ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES, 
25 AND 26 MARCH 2014 
The following communication, received on 18 March 2014, 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.  Between October 2013 and January 2014, as part of the Harmonized System for Bovine 
Traceability programme implemented by OIR SA with the support of the Inter-American 
Development Bank (IDB), training was given to pr oducers and technicians from Belize, Guatemala, 
El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic to raise awareness of the 
importance of implementing an official bovine tr aceability system. Training was provided on the 
use of official individual identification devices and radio frequency-operated electronic device readers. 
1.2.  From October 2013 to February 2014, under the auspices of the OIRSA-Chinese Taipei 
agreement "Regional Health Programme for Backyard Poultry (PRESAAT)", 15 training events on poultry management and health were organized for small-scale producers in El Salvador, 
Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama. 
1.3.  Officials from the OIRSA Regional Agricultural Quarantine Programme organized two training 
courses on quarantine treatment for 70 technicians from the Guatemalan International Quarantine 
Treatment Service (SITC). 
1.4.  From 14 to 18 October 2013, in the district of Aguadulce, Panama, OIRSA, in coordination 
with the Food Safety Department (DEPA) of th e Ministry of Health (MINSA), gave a seminar 
in preparation for the FVO/DG-SANCO audit on veterinary drug residues and contaminants 
in live animals and animal products. Fifty-eight people, including technicians and producers, 
participated in the event. 
1.5.  Under Mexico's OIRSA/SENASICA agreement, a workshop on quality management and the 
validation of analytical methods was held from 14 to 18 October 2013 in Cuernavaca, 
Morelos, Mexico. It was attended by representatives from animal health laboratories in the nine countries of the region. 
1.6.  In Panama, from 21 to 25 October 2013, OIRSA officials made inspection visits 
to six aquaculture sector companies in relation to the implementation of the HACCP system and veterinary drug residues and contaminants. 
1.7.  Under the agreement between OIRSA and th e Australian Department of Agriculture 
and Fisheries (DAFF), two intensive courses were held in El Salvador from 22 October 
to 1 November 2013. The courses were led by Australian experts, who trained 60 quarantine G/SPS/GEN/1319 
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  technicians from throughout the OIRSA region on the application of the AQIS Methyl Bromide 
Fumigation Standard. 
1.8.  With a view to building capacity to deal with the spread of the citrus disease Huanglongbing 
(HLB), and within the framework of the conc lusion of the TCP/RLA/3311 project, OIRSA, 
with the support of FAO, organised a workshop to support OIRSA member countries in controlling 
citrus HLB. This workshop was held in Costa Rica in October 2013 and was attended by 35 producers. 
1.9.  From November 2013 to January 2014, OIRSA officials provided training for Panamanian 
technicians and exporting producers on the fi eld identification, laboratory diagnosis and 
epidemiological monitoring of Fusarium guttiforme , a quarantine pest affecting pineapple crops. 
1.10.  From 6 to 14 November 2013, public and private sector producers from Belize, El Salvador 
and Guatemala participated in OIRSA-led apiary assessment technical visits and apiculture 
training days. 
1.11.  At the 23
rd Latin American Poultry Farming Congress, organized by Aves de El Salvador  
and held from 12 to 15 November 2013, OIRSA, through its Food Safety Department, gave 
a keynote address on the Codex Alimentarius and its importance for the poultry farming sector. 
1.12.  OIRSA sponsored the participation of nine veterinary drug registration officials from 
its member countries and ten representatives from the Central American veterinary industry in 
a regional workshop for the preparation, discussion  and harmonization of a draft Central American 
Technical Regulation on veterinary drugs and related products, sanitary registration requirements and control. The event was held in Panama on 26 and 27 November 2013. 
1.13.  In Nicaragua, 35 technicians from the Seed Certification Department of the 
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry participated  in a workshop on the treatment of seed-borne 
diseases, which was held from 26 to 28 November 2013. 
1.14.  In Honduras, OIRSA sponsored a training even t on bovine brucellosis and tuberculosis. 
Thirty-two public sector veterinary surgeons attended the event, which was held from 26 to 29 November 2013. 
1.15.  In Nicaragua, from 2 to 4 December 2013, OIRSA, in coordination with the Food Safety 
and Animal Health Directorates of the Directorate-General of Agricultural Protection and Health (DGPSA), provided training on European legislation and the scope of the FVO/DG-SANCO audit on veterinary drug residues and contaminants in live animals and animal products, and the use 
of the European Union's TRACES system. The event was attended by 21 public and private sector 
officials from the shrimp farming and natural honey sectors. 
1.16.  OIRSA, with the financial support of Chinese Taipei, organized a major convention on coffee 
leaf rust, which was held from 9 to 13 December 2013 in Honduras. The event was attended 
by 150 people, including regional producers and technicians, who were given training on coffee plant health with special emphasis on the control of coffee leaf rust ( Hemileia vastatrix  Berk 
et Br.). 
1.17.  From 10 to 13 December 2013 in Honduras, 37 officials received training on the four rules 
proposed in the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, i.e. agricultural product safety, preventive controls for human food, the foreign supplier verification programme, and the 
certification of accredited third parties. The officials also attended an advanced course on good 
manufacturing practices (GMP) and HACCP. 
1.18.  OIRSA sponsored epidemiological training for 34 public and private sector epidemiologists 
and veterinary surgeons from Guatemala. The event was held from 10 to 14 January 2014. 
1.19.  OIRSA, with the support of experts from Chinese Taipei, trained 20 producers from 
El Salvador and 35 from Panama on citrus HLB control. The training event was held in both 
countries from 12 to 24 January 2014. G/SPS/GEN/1319 
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  1.20.  Between 13 and 25 January 2014, OIRSA, in coordination with the Food Safety Department 
of the Panamanian Ministry of Health (DEPA/MINSA), conducted pre-audit visits for fishery and aquaculture products in preparation for two European Union audits of the competent authority (DEPA). The pre-audit focused on fishery prod uct hygiene and veterinary drug residues 
and contaminants in live animals and animal products. 
1.21.  Sixty quarantine technicians from Belize participated in two training courses on quarantine 
treatment which were held from 27 January to 1 February 2014. 
1.22.  In Guatemala, from 15 to 17 February 2014, OI RSA held a regional course on pig farm 
biosafety which was attended by 21 participants, including regional pig farmers and public sector professionals, from various countries. 
1.23.  In Guatemala, from 25 to 27 February 2014,  OIRSA conducted a simulation exercise 
on small hive beetle ( Aethina tumida ) outbreaks in OIRSA member countries. Twenty-five public, 
private and academic sector technicians from the region participated in the event. 
2  SUPPORT FOR THE HARMONIZATION AND EQUIVALENCE PROCESS 
2.1.  In October and November 2013, as part of the Harmonized System for Bovine Traceability 
programme, regional workshops were held in the Central American countries and the Dominican Republic to prepare and revise technical manuals and procedures for the application 
of the Regional Bovine Traceability Standard. 
2.2.  From October 2013 to March 2014, the updated food  safety regulations of the United States 
(Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Food Safe ty and Inspection 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. 
2.3.  OIRSA has established regional regulations for the certification of citrus fruit nurseries. 
The initiative provides the basis for improved and more technically-advanced citrus farming that 
is prepared for controlling citrus HLB and other diseases transmitted through grafting. 
From October 2013 to March 2014, a number of OIRSA member countries, such as the Dominican Republic, Panama and Guatemala, a pproved these regulations by national decree 
or resolution. 
2.4.  OSPESCA
1/OIRSA Regulation No. 001-2013 for the prevention, control and eradication 
of disease in farmed shrimp in OIRSA countries and the SICA2 was approved at the 
52nd Special Session of the International Regional Committee for Plant and Animal Health (CIRSA), 
OIRSA's highest body. The OIRSA Extended Technical Commission (animal health directors, 
OSPESCA) also participated in the event, as did heads of aquaculture unions and associations. 
2.5.  On 13 November 2013, OIRSA held an online training course for 30 people on the application 
of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) Nos. 17-2002 and 19-2003. 
On 26 November 2013, 22 people were trained to use the IPPC Online Comment System (OCS) so as to be able to make comments on ISPMs. 
2.6.  On 17 February 2014, OIRSA, in conjunction with the Secretariat of the International 
Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), held a prep aratory regional workshop for the Ninth Session 
of the IPPC Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-9), which will take place in Rome, Italy. 
The event was attended by representatives from the ministries and secretariats of agriculture of all 
the countries in the OIRSA region. Also present at the workshop were Ana María Peralta 
and Sonya Hammons, IPPC training officials, who spoke to the participants about highly relevant matters such as the various types of CPM documents that exist and how to revise them, 
issues on the CPM agenda, how and why they should consult on national positions, how and why 
they should strengthen a regional strategy, how and why they should make written comments and oral statements, and the coordination of meetings during the CPM. 
                                               
1 Organization for the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sect or of the Central Americ an Isthmus (OSPESCA). 
2 Central American Integration System (SICA). G/SPS/GEN/1319 
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  3  SUPPORT FOR REGIONALIZATION (ESTABLISHMENT OF PEST-/DISEASE-FREE AND 
LOW-PREVALENCE AREAS, DEVELOPMENT OF PROTOCOLS FOR THEIR RECOGNITION) 
3.1.  From 27 November to 14 December 2013, OIRSA provided support to its member countries 
during an audit on the level of compliance of th e activities scheduled in the 2013 Road Map, 
which seek to ensure the international recognition of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, 
Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama as countries free of classical swine fever (CSF) in 2014-2015. 
3.2.  OIRSA drafted a proposal for the Guatemalan authorities on the compartmentalization 
of farms for CSF. 
4  PREVENTION, CONTROL AND ERADICATION ACTIVITIES (PROGRAMMES 
OR CAMPAIGNS) 
4.1.  In October 2013, as part of the ICDF-OIRSA project on strengthening HLB control and the 
implementation of integrated citrus pest management (IPM), OIRSA began building covered 
greenhouses, using technology from Chinese Taipei, in El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic. The aim is to produc e the highest number of healthy plants in the 
shortest time possible with a view to replacing citrus trees infected with HLB. 
4.2.  OIRSA prepared a protocol for the monitoring of Diaphorina citri kuwayama  (HLB vector) 
in the following four scenarios: (1) Detection of the presence of Diaphorina citri ; (2) Detection 
of populations infected with the HLB bacteria; (3) Determination of the population trend of the 
vector during the course of the year; and (4) Detection of infestation outbreaks in commercial orchards. Furthermore, with a view to providing relevant information prior to the sampling of psyllids and plant material, and to serve as  a guide for the description of sample-taking 
and forwarding procedures and laboratory diagno sis procedures for the detection of HLB, OIRSA 
prepared a manual on the collection, forwarding and processing of samples for the diagnosis of HLB in leaves and the presence of associated bacteria in the vector insect. 
4.3.  OIRSA collaborated with the poultry sector in El Salvador and Panama to gather sanitary 
information for the eligibility of poultry products in the international market. 
4.4.  From 20 to 24 January 2014, in Guatemala, OI RSA, with the support of experts from 
Chinese Taipei, held a workshop on diagnosing citrus HLB using molecular technology. 
The workshop was attended by 30 technicians. 
4.5.  OIRSA is supporting member countries with their tomato leaf miner ( Tuta absoluta ) 
monitoring programmes which use trapping and exploration techniques for the early detection 
of the pest. Field sheets on the tomato leaf miner and the Bactericera cockerelli  - Candidatus  
Liberibacter solanacearum  complex were also prepared. 
4.6.  In accordance with an International Regional Committee for Plant and Animal Health (CIRSA) 
mandate emanating from CIRSA's 48
th Special Session, held in Honduras on 11 August 2011, 
and with a view to ensuring the coherence of phytosanitary programmes on the control of Mediterranean fruit fly and other fruit flies, 25 technicians participated in a regional meeting 
on the control of the fruit fly complex, which was held in Belize on 14 November 2013. 
5  STRENGTHENING OF NATIONAL INSTITUTIO NS IN ORDER TO FACILITATE TRADE 
5.1.  From October to December 2013, as part of the Harmonized System for Bovine Traceability 
programme, OIRSA provided technical support to Panama (Law No. 104), the Dominican Republic 
(Ministerial Agreement No. 82–2013) and Guatemal a (Executive Decree) in relation to the 
establishment of a national livestock traceability programme. 
5.2.  With the support of the Standards and Tr ade Development Facility (STDF), OIRSA 
is implementing a regional veterinary legislation project (STDF/PG/358) for OIRSA member 
countries, under which a regional seminar on veterinary legislation was held in San Salvador from 9 to 11 December 2013. The seminar was organized in conjunction with the 
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the G/SPS/GEN/1319 
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  United Nations (FAO) and OIRSA and was attended by  49 animal health and veterinary legislation 
officials from all the member countries. 
5.3.  On 28 February 2014, as part of the Harmonized  System for Bovine Traceability programme, 
an educational video was launched on the importance of traceability. This material serves 
as support for traceability training and awareness-raising activities in countries in the OIRSA 
region. Furthermore, the first edition of the regional traceability journal (First edition: The Regional Bovine Traceability Standard) was issued in January 2014. 
6  STRATEGIC ALLIANCES FOR THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND TRADE 
6.1.  On 15 November 2013, OIRSA and the Mexican Food and Development Research Centre 
(CIAD) signed a general cooperation agreement on the scientific, academic and technological 
strengthening of aquacultural diagnosis laboratories in the OIRSA region. 
6.2.  On 29 January 2014, in Barcelona, Spain, OIRSA signed a technical cooperation agreement 
with the autonomous government of Catalonia, wi th a view to promoting the strengths of both 
regions in terms of agricultural health. 
We invite you to visit our website at: http://www.oirsa.org . 
I n  o r d e r  t o  c o m m e n t  o n  t h i s  r e p o r t  o r  o b t a i n  a d d i t i o n a l  i n f o r m a t i o n ,  p l e a s e  c o n t a c t :  
Edmundo Omar Toro, email: eotoro@oirsa.org . 
For more information on food safety, please contact: Oscar García, email: ogarcia@oirsa.org . 
For any queries on animal health activities, please contact: Abelardo de Gracia, email: 
adegracia@oirsapanama.org.pa . 
For further information on plant health, please contact: Jimmy Ruiz, email: jruiz@oirsa.org . 
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