G/SPS/GEN/1429  
6 July 2015  
(15-3465)  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 63RD MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE 
ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
15 and 16 July 2015 
The following communication, received on 3 July 2015, 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 Panama, a training workshop on coffee plant nutrition and its impact on pest control, 
plant tissue treatment in relation to the control of coffee rust and the sustainability of coffee productivity, and the monitoring of coffee rust and the integration and analysis of information as 
part of the early warning system, was organized for technical staff from the Ministry of Agricultural 
Development and the private sector. 
1.2.  In El Salvador, a training workshop on the approval of technical criteria for integrated 
coffee rust management was held for technical staff from the National Agricultural and Forestry 
Technology Centre (CENTA) and the production sector. 
1.3.  In Guatemala, a training workshop on the epidemiological monitoring of coffee rust was 
organized for Ministry of Agriculture technical staff working for the coffee rust control programme. 
1.4.  A preparatory workshop on the designing of th e regional traceability programme for coffee 
cultivation was held in Honduras. Participants included technical staff from the Honduran Coffee Institute (IHCAFE) and the Secretariat of Agriculture. 
1.5.  In Belize, a training workshop on the use of the rapid iodine testing method, the use of 
demonstration plots, and the results obtained from releasing biological control agents in backyards, was organized for technical staff from the Ministry of Agriculture and producers, within the framework of the Huanglongbing Co ntrol and Prevention Project (International 
Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF), Chinese Taipei/OIRSA). 
1.6.  In Honduras, the following events were held  within the framework of the Huanglongbing 
Control and Prevention Project (International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF), 
Chinese Taipei/OIRSA): a training workshop on  the production of healthy citrus plants, 
for technical staff from the Honduran Agricultural Research Foundation (FHIIA); and a training workshop on the use of demonstration plots, integrated HLB management and the production of 
certified healthy citrus plants, for technical staff from the Ministry of Agriculture and producers. G/SPS/GEN/1429 
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  1.7.  In El Salvador, a training workshop on the integrated management of citrus HLB 
was organized for technical staff from the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Agricultural and Forestry Technology Centre (CENTA), with in the framework of the Huanglongbing Control 
and Prevention Project (International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF), 
Chinese Taipei/OIRSA). The workshop was led by experts from Chinese Taipei. 
1.8.  A training workshop on the integrated management of citrus HLB was held in 
Nicaragua within the framework of the Huan glongbing Control and Prevention Project 
(International Cooperation and Development Fund  (ICDF), Chinese Taipei/OIRSA). The workshop, 
aimed at technical staff from the Ministry of Agri culture, was led by experts from Chinese Taipei. 
1.9.  In Panama, a training workshop on the integrat ed management of citrus HLB was held within 
the framework of the Huanglongbing Control and Prevention Project (International Cooperation 
and Development Fund (ICDF), Chinese Taipei/OIRSA). The workshop, aimed at technical staff 
from the Ministry of Agricultural Development an d the National Institute of Agriculture (INA), 
was led by experts from Taiwan. 
1.10.  In Panama, a workshop on fishing and aquaculture was organized by OIRSA and the FAO 
with a view to promoting the consumption of fish and other marine products in countries from Mexico to Colombia, including Cuba and the Dominican Republic. The workshop emphasized that 
the safety of both products for domestic cons umption and exports is key to the development 
of fisheries and aquaculture in the participant countries. 
1.11.  With OIRSA support, farmers from two Salvadoran jocote and loroco cooperatives that 
currently export to the United States went on an educational visit to Guatemala. They visited 
companies that produce and export fresh vegetables to the United States and Europe, with a view 
to learning about certification procedures at field and processing plant level, so as to be able to apply them in their own certification processes. 
1.12.  A regional training workshop entitled "Tolerances or MRLs: how to establish them, and their 
interpretation at country level", was organized fo r safety managers from OIRSA member countries. 
1.13.  Under the IRTA agreement between Spain and OIRSA, existing bovine meat inspection 
systems in Nicaragua, Honduras and Panama were assessed and a bovine meat inspection manual 
for the OIRSA region was developed. 
1.14.  The second Course on Transboundary Diseases, aimed at technical staff from the Ministries 
of Agriculture of member countries, was taught jo intly online by OIRSA and Iowa State University. 
1.15.  A training workshop on the good use of veteri nary drugs and withdrawal periods was held in 
El Salvador for Salvadoran livestock producers. 
1.16.  An online course on the epidemiological monitoring of shrimp was organized for technical 
staff from the Ministries of Ag riculture of member countries. 
1.17.  The first international technical seminar on EMS/AHPND (TCP FAO-OIRSA) was held in 
Panama for technical staff from the Ministries of Agriculture of member countries. 
1.18.  In Panama, the second workshop on the reduction and management of the risk of acute 
hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) in shrimp farming (TCP FAO-OIRSA) was attended by technical personnel from ten countries selected by the FAO: Ecuador, Honduras, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Nicaragua. 
1.19.  In Panama, Honduras and Guatemala, a training course on bovine traceability was organized 
for technical operators working with the Panamanian traceability system and technical staff from SENASA and FENAGH in Honduras, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food 
(MAGA) in Guatemala. 
1.20.  An epidemiological research study was conducted on the origin of the CSF outbreak in the 
Dominican Republic and the establishment of control measures. G/SPS/GEN/1429 
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  1.21.  A plan was developed to control and eradicate the low pathogenic avian influenza 
H5N2 virus in Belize. 
1.22.  Manuals on good animal welfare practices were developed covering the following areas: 
shipment, calves at birth, vaccination, animal identification and milking. 
1.23.  A manual on the implementation of the quality management system was developed for 
animal health diagnostic laboratories. 
1.24.  Steps were taken to monitor the implementation of Guatemala's national bovine traceability 
scheme (SINAT-GT) and to revise the MAGA -OIRSA inter-institutional agreement. 
1.25.  Technical support was provided and monitoring  took place in respect of the use of the 
SARB system (traceability software) (updates and training). 
2  SUPPORT FOR THE HARMONIZATION AND EQUIVALENCE PROCESS 
2.1.  Support was provided for the updating and dissemination of secondary regulations on bovine 
brucellosis and tuberculosis and Newcastle disease. 
2.2.  Support was provided for the participation of veterinary drug registration officials 
in the 22nd session of the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods, 
held in San José, Costa Rica. 
2.3.  Twelve weekly meetings of the National Veterinary Drug Committee and the Central American 
Veterinary Industry Federation (FIVETCA) we re organized on issues relating to the 
Central American Customs Union, good manufacturing practices, anti-microbial resistance, and the organization of the CAMEVET 2015. 
2.4.  Events were held with SE-COMISCA and SE-CAC to raise awareness of the proposed regional 
programme for the progressive control of brucellosis in Central America. 
2.5.  Support was provided for the designing of the Panama-Costa Rica binational project on the 
declaration of bovine brucellosis-free areas. 
3  PREVENTION, CONTROL AND ERADICATION ACTIVITIES (PROGRAMMES OR CAMPAIGNS) 
3.1.  As part of the project providing support for fruit fly control and eradication programmes 
in the OIRSA region, an analysis was carried out of the current status of fruit fly programmes and 
management in the countries of the OIRSA region. 
3.2.  Upon the request of a number of countries, OIRSA promoted and sponsored the participation 
of official delegates in the 38
th session of the Codex Alimentarius , held in Geneva, Switzerland. 
3.3.  In Mexico, a workshop was held to draw up a continental action plan to tackle the threat 
of Fusarium TR4. The workshop was attended by technical personnel from countries in the 
OIRSA region, AGROCALIDAD in Ecuador and EMBRAPA in Brazil. 
3.4.  Following the outbreak of Mediterranean fruit fly in the area of Punta Cana, 
Dominican Republic, OIRSA and other bodies such as USDA-APHIS, together with the 
Mexico-Guatemala-United States Mediterranean fruit fly programme, continue to support the 
Ministry of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic in its efforts to stop the spread of Mediterranean 
fruit fly in this area and are working with the country on a joint eradication plan. 
3.5.  Vaccination campaigns were conducted to prevent avian diseases, and training was provided 
on management and nutrition, in communities in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama. 
3.6.  Sampling was conducted on poultry farms to establish the health situation in Panama, 
El Salvador and Guatemala. G/SPS/GEN/1429 
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  3.7.  A joint OIRSA-APHIS-IAEA (International Atom ic Energy Agency) workshop was held to 
enhance epidemiological monitoring and response  in the event of an outbreak of screwworm. 
3.8.  Regulations were established for the implementa tion of the Honduran national traceability 
and livestock registration system for persons, es tablishments, animals, products and byproducts, 
and their movements, with a view to ensuring sanitary control. 
4  STRENGTHENING OF NATIONAL INSTITUTIO NS IN ORDER TO FACILITATE TRADE 
4.1.  A programme on epidemiological surveillance at borders was developed to support 
Central American countries in view of the pr esence of avian influenza H7N3 in Mexico. 
4.2.  Support was provided for national poultry health programmes in the areas of avian disease 
prevention, control and eradication and biologist staffing, with a view to enhancing epidemiological surveillance. 
5  STRATEGIC ALLIANCES FOR THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND TRADE 
5.1.  In El Salvador, in coordination with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation 
on Agriculture (IICA), the Executive Secretariat of the Central American Agricultural Council (CAC) 
and the General Secretariat of the Central American Integration System (SICA), 
a regional meeting of international organizations was organized on integration and cooperation in the area of agricultural health and food safety , with a view to aligning the actions of the 
cooperating international organizations and States with the priorities established by the 
governments of the region. 
5.2.  Three poultry production units were established in El Salvador: Cooperativa Yutathui 
(El Jobo); Comunidad San Francisco, Quezaltepeque; an d the test field of the faculty of veterinary 
medicine of the Universidad Salvadoreña Alberto Masferrer (USAM). 
5.3.  An OIRSA-APHIS/USDA alliance cooperation agreement was established to improve 
the epidemiological monitoring of vesicular diseas es in the prevention of foot-and-mouth disease 
and screwworm. 
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