G/SPS/GEN/1400  
18 March 2015  
(15-1542)  Page: 1/3  
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 AGRE EMENT ON THE APPLICATION 
OF SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
REPORT TO THE 62ND MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE 
ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
26 AND 27 MARCH 2015 
The following communication, received on 17 March 2015, 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.  In Panama, a workshop was organized for food safety officials and poultry specialists from the 
member countries on good practices and food safety and HACCP management systems for fresh 
produce and processed products. 
1.2.  In Honduras, training was organized with the support of Chinese Taipei and the authorities of 
the National Agricultural Health Service (SENASA)  for inspectors and technicians from national 
laboratories responsible for rapid pesticide residue analysis in fruit and vegetables. 
1.3.  A follow-up technical meeting was held in Guatemala on the programme for the detection, 
prevention and control of th e Mediterranean fruit fly ( Ceratitis capitata ) in the free areas of Belize, 
Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. 
1.4.  In Panama, the following events related to animal health were organized: the third theoretical 
and practical refresher course on white shrimp ( Litopenaeus vannamei ) pathology and immunology, 
aimed at aquaculture specialists from the OIRSA region and Andean countries; a workshop on shrimp 
traceability; a training workshop on individual bovine identification and the registration procedure 
for information on producers, establishments and traceability; and a workshop on pig farm bio-safety for the prevention of porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED). 
1.5.  During the second International Congress on Aquaculture in Mexico, there was a lecture 
on OIRSA support for regional simulation on early mortality syndrome (EMS) and aquaculture 
health activities in 2014. 
1.6.  A regional workshop on capacity building for health emergency response in Latin America and 
the Caribbean was organized in coordination with the FAO and held in Panama. 
1.7.  A national workshop on good practices in animal welfare was held in Guatemala. 
1.8.  A training workshop on the detection of post-mortem tuberculosis lesions was organized 
in Honduras. 
1.9.  During the 25
th International Conference on Rabies in the Americas (RITA) in Mexico, 
OIRSA gave a presentation on its operations in support of rabies control. G/SPS/GEN/1400 
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  1.10.  In connection with the Symposium on Bee Health in Latin America held in Argentina, 
OIRSA gave a lecture on the work of the Regional Directorate of Animal Health to support the beekeeping industry in the OIRSA region. It also participated in the OIE initiative to create a Regional Apiculture Committee. 
1.11.  Technical training guidelines for developing a comprehensive food safety system and good 
agricultural practices for the primary produc tion of melon in Honduras were prepared. 
1.12.  Technical data sheets and field sheets were drawn up for the following pests: Tuta absoluta, 
Raoeilla indica , Anastrepha grandis , Globodera rostochiensis , Thrips palmi Karny , Ceratitis capitata , 
and Bactrocera invadens . 
2  SUPPORT FOR THE HARMONIZATION AND EQUIVALENCE PROCESS 
2.1.  OIRSA provided technical assistance during the implementation of the current national bovine 
traceability systems in Honduras and Panama. 
2.2.  The following standardized manuals were produc ed: the second edition of the technical guide 
on penaeid shrimp pathology and immunology and a manual on recommended withdrawal periods for 
the correct use of veterinary medicinal products. 
2.3.  A meeting was held with representatives of the National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) 
of OIRSA member countries to discuss comments on the draft International Standards for 
Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) addressed in th e Standards Committee of the International Plant 
Protection Convention (IPPC). 
2.4.  A regional workshop, organized jointly with the IPPC and attended by representatives of OIRSA 
and COSAVE member countries, was held to revise  the draft ISPMs released for consultation 
in 2014 by the IPPC Secretariat. 
2.5.  A workshop was held with the IPPC Secretariat to prepare for the March meeting of 
the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) in Rome, Italy. It was attended by delegates 
from the NPPOs of OIRSA member countries, with technical assistance from IPPC training officials 
Ana María Peralta and Sonya Hammons. 
3  PREVENTION, CONTROL AND ERADICATION ACTIVITIES (PROGRAMMES OR CAMPAIGNS) 
3.1.  With the participation of NPPOs from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, 
Belize and the Dominican Republic, a monitoring programme using trapping and exploration techniques for the early detection of Tuta absoluta  is being implemented. 
3.2.  OIRSA is monitoring the activities for the control and eradication of classical swine fever 
in Guatemala. 
3.3.  OIRSA supported Belize in developing a plan to control and eradicate the low pathogenic 
avian influenza H5N2 virus. It also helped finalize the third national screening to determine 
the prevalence of bovine brucellosi s and tuberculosis in the country. 
3.4.  Together with the FAO and with support from health authorities and the private sector, OIRSA is 
continuing to work on the "Regional strategy for the progressive control of bovine brucellosis". 
3.5.  In connection with the programme for the prevention  and control of Huanglongbing in citrus fruit 
and with the support of the Chinese Taipei International Cooperation and Development Fund, two greenhouses were built in El Salvador: one foundation block (first level) to store genetic material from the region's different varieties of citrus fruit and another for shoot multiplication (second level) 
for the production of healthy citrus plants. A foundation block for genetic material was also built 
in Honduras. G/SPS/GEN/1400 
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  4  STRENGTHENING OF NATIONAL INSTITUTIO NS IN ORDER TO FACILITATE TRADE 
4.1.  OIRSA hosts conferences at the National Agrarian University of Nicaragua and provides technical 
assistance in setting up a Master's Degree in Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. 
4.2.  With the support of the Standards and Trad e Development Facility (STDF), OIRSA is 
implementing a regional veterinary legislation project (STDF/PG/358) for OIRSA member countries. 
Proposals for secondary legislation (regulations) on brucellosis, tuberculosis and Newcastle disease, and a proposal for a procedural manual for Newcastle disease, have been developed over recent 
months. These documents have been analysed by OIRSA and submitted for review by the FAO and 
the OIE, which are cooperating on the project. 
5  STRATEGIC ALLIANCES FOR THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND TRADE 
5.1.  International cooperation project TCP/RLA/3501 on bovine paralytic rabies has been launched 
in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua and will be carried out by the FAO and OIRSA. 
5.2.  In Mexico a joint meeting was held between representatives of NAPPO, COSAVE, IICA and OIRSA 
to identify actions and projects of mutual interest. 
5.3.  A cooperation agreement on technical and academic support for animal welfare was signed with 
the University of Zacatecas in Mexico. 
We invite you to visit our website at: http://www.oirsa.org  
In order to comment on this report or obtain additional information, please contact: Octavio Carranza 
(email: ocarranza@oirsa.org ) 
For more information on food safety, please contact: Lauriano Figueroa (email lfigueroa@oirsa.org ) 
For any queries on animal health activities, please contact: Luis Alberto Espinoza 
(email: lespinoza@oirsa.org ) 
For further information on plant health, please contact: Carlos Urías (email: mailto:curias@oirsa.org ) 
 
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