WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/GEN/1128 
4 November 2011  
 
(11-5615) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
  
 
INFORMATION ON OFFICIAL OIE RECOGNITION OF 
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE FREE STATUS 
 
Communication from Argentina 
 
 
 The following communication, received on 27 October 2011, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Argentina. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. On 4 February 2011, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recognized a 
new foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) free zone with v accination, signifying recognition of the entire 
national territory as FMD-free.  The overall situ ation of the country is summarized below. 
2. The OIE recognizes three FMD-free zones in Argentina, covering the whole of 
Argentine territory (see map).  This year the OIE recognized the high-surveillance zone on the 
border with Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil as an "FMD -free border zone with vaccination", in addition 
to the two previously recognized zones, which are: 
 The FMD-free zone with vaccination (Centr o Norte);  recognized in 2002, suspended 
on two occasions and finally regaining rec ognition in 2007.  Its status has remained 
unchanged since then;  and 
 the FMD-free zone without vaccination (Argentine Patagonia);  recognized 
since 2002, the zone has never lost its disease-free status and was expanded in 2007 
to encompass a larger geographic area. 
3. The newly recognized border zone with v accination (Cordón Fronterizo) was established 
when there was an outbreak of foot-and-mout h disease in the Southern Cone countries. 
4. It was set up in 2004 in response to a percei ved regional risk of foot-and-mouth disease.  
Exceptional measures were applied that were stricter than those in place for the rest of the zone with 
vaccination as a form of prevention and control. 
5. In 2006, clinical manifestations of foot-and-m outh disease reappeared in a case in Argentina, 
and measures were implemented in line with intern ational standards.  Once the required period of 
time had elapsed, in May 2007, the OIE General A ssembly approved Argentina's request to regain 
FMD-free status with vaccination for the zone of Centro Norte, except for an area of land classified as 
being under high surveillance (15 km in width along the border with Paraguay and along part of the 
border with Bolivia). G/SPS/GEN/1128 
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  6. Subsequently, within the framework of the Standing Veterinary Committee of the 
Southern Cone, Argentina together with the nei ghbouring countries of Para guay and Bolivia decided 
to implement differential strategies which remain in fo rce to this day.  The same measures began to be 
applied in similar high-surveillance zones on the borders between Paraguay and Brazil, Bolivia and 
Brazil, and Bolivia and Paraguay. 
7. The reason why this zone differs from the conti guous zone with vaccination (Centro Norte) is 
that the agreement to maintain differential measur es remains in force with in the framework of the 
border programme of the MERCOSUR Action Plan  for FMD-Free Status.  This Plan, whose 
management has been entrusted to MERCOSUR,  guarantees the operational effectiveness of the 
measures as well as regional coordination, a condit ion stipulated by the OIE when defining the 
high-surveillance zone.  The zone was later recogni zed as an FMD-free zone with vaccination in 
Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil. 
II. ADDITIONAL MEASURES 
8. The additional measures adopted for the territory  of the recognized zone are the following: 
 Strengthening and maintaining the structure of veterinary care in the zones, with a 
strengthening, inter alia , of the local offices, professional human resources, both 
technical and administrative, means of communication, and dissemination 
programmes; 
 an updated land registry of all establis hments housing animals susceptible to 
foot-and-mouth disease, and georeferencing of land; 
 individual identification of all domestic  species susceptible to foot-and-mouth 
disease; 
 harmonizing periods, duration and procedures of vaccination in zones bordering other 
countries; 
 systematic vaccination twice a year of all bovines/bubalines with an official vaccine; 
 until the second vaccination campaign of 2009, animals of other species susceptible 
to foot-and-mouth disease were also v accinated, i.e. pigs, sheep and goats.  
A subsequent evaluation of the vaccination of these species and its importance as part 
of the control strategies led to the suspension of this measure; 
 additional requirements for authorizing movements of animals susceptible to 
foot-and-mouth disease; 
 stepping-up control of animal movement s at fixed and mobile control posts; 
 harmonizing scientifically validated seroepidemiological-monitoring methods with 
the support of the Pan American Foot and Mouth Disease Centre (PANAFTOSA), the 
scientific centre of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization 
(PAHO/WHO); 
 seroepidemiological surveillance with clini cal inspections and documentary checking 
during vaccination activities, where there is a concentration of animals and entry and 
exit inspections;  G/SPS/GEN/1128 
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 periodical bilateral actions and contact betw een the staff of the veterinary services in 
border zones (meetings, inspection visits of local offices and farm holdings, exchange 
of sanitary information);  and 
 ongoing training of all health staff involved in, inter alia , the prevention and early 
detection of FMD and handling of foci of the disease. 
 
Illustration 
 
Map of zones recognized by the OIE as free from foot-and-mouth disease 
 
__________  FMD-free zone with vaccination (Cordón Fronterizo) 
FMD-free zone with vaccination (Centro Norte)  
FMD-free zone without vaccination (Patagonia)