WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/861 
4 July 2008 
 (08-3225) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
CLASSICAL SWINE FEVER AND FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE FREE STATUS 
 
Statement by Belize at the meeting of 24-25 June 2008
 
  
 The following communication, received on 24 June 2008, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of Belize
. 
 
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I. CLASSICAL SWINE FEVER 
1. In accordance with Article 2.6.7.2 of the Te rrestrial Animal Health Code of the World 
Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Belize declares itself free from Classical swine fever (CSF).  Belize last reported the occurrence of CSF in 19 88. Infection is not known to be established in 
wildlife within the country.  Since 1988, ap propriate measures are in place to prevent 
disease/infection introduction and to enable early detec tion.  Classical swine fever is notifiable in the 
whole country, there is an on-going awarenes s programme in place and all notified suspect 
occurrences of CSF are subjected to field and, where applicable, laboratory investigations.  
Vaccination is prohibited.  The feeding of swill is also prohibited, unless the swill has been treated to 
destroy any CSF virus. 
2. A Classical Swine Fever Programme was initiate d in 1998 with funds provided by OIRSA 
PREFIP I and II Projects and the EU-CARIFORUM CSF Project.  
3. Epidemiological surveillance following interna tional guidelines provided by the OIE, OIRSA 
and the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada included the implementation of two national surveys 
in 2000 and 2004.  The Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan was developed in 2000 and 
updated in 2004.  The Plan was activated in 2002, following a positive laboratory diagnosis of CSF at 
a regional reference laboratory.  The positive la boratory diagnosis was not  confirmed by an OIE 
Reference Laboratory thus the suspect CSF was inva lidated.  As pigs have not been vaccinated for 
CSF since 1990 and the vaccine is not registered fo r use in Belize or has not been imported into the 
country since 1990, the use of serological techniques are appropriate to detect evidence of the virus.  Samples collected from active and p assive surveillance are tested at the Central Veterinary Laboratory 
in Central Farm, Cayo, using antibody detection ELISA, an OIE prescribed test.  
4. The surveys undertaken in 2000 and 2004 resulted in the collection of 3390 and 2523 
samples, respectively, all with negative results to  CSF.  The survey was repeated in 2004 and the 
negative results obtained invalidated the hypothesis that there was a mild strain of the CSF virus 
circulating in Belize, given the false positive result reported in 2002.  Sampling is on-going using the 
methodology obtained from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. G/SPS/GEN/861 
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  5. Achievements of the Classical Swine Fever Programme include: 
- The conduct of two national surveys; 
- A science–based sampling plan for maintenance of free status; 
- On-going public awareness campaigns.  As a result of the EU-CARIFORUM Project in 
Belize, many information brochures and manuals including DVDs were prepared; 
- Capacity building:  our staff is well-traine d in laboratory techniques and epidemiological 
surveillance for CSF, including risk analysis a nd disease response.  All the veterinarians in the 
Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) ha ve been trained in the United States on 
foreign animal disease diagnosis; 
- A "live" CSF simulation was held in Belize' s in 2002 in response to the false positive 
laboratory result.  Our staff has participated in a regional CSF simulation; 
- An Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan  for CSF was prepared in 2000 and updated 
in 2004; 
- The technical and scientific support to Belize' s CSF-free status has been reviewed by 
international experts from Spain and Argentina with positive results; 
- An information system including farm registration, GIS and database is in place; 
- There is enabling legislation for epidemiological  surveillance and the control of diseased or 
suspected animals; 
- There is public recognition of the CSF-free status of Belize both regionally and 
internationally; 
- There is strong political will and regional support for Belize's CSF-free status. 
 
6. In summary, Belize is free from Classical swine fever.  This status is internationally 
recognized and there is science-based documentation to support this declaration. 
II. FREE OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE 
7. In 2007, Belize applied to the OIE to be rec ognized as free of foot and mouth disease (FMD).  
Its application was studied following a very democr atic process that involved renowned international 
experts and the elected members of the OIE Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases.  The Scientific Commission concluded that Belize fulfille d the conditions to be considered free from FMD 
without vaccination in accordance with Article 2.2.10. 2. of the Terrestrial Code. Member countries 
were given 60 days to request any information substa ntiating this decision should they wish to do so.  
As there were no objections, the Scientific  Commission submitted the recommendation to the 
International Committee, comprised of 172 delegates, who then approved the official recognition.  At 
its 76
th General Session held in Paris, France fro m the 25-30 May 2008, the International Committee 
of the OIE approved the official OIE recognition of Belize's sanitary status as free of  FMD without 
vaccination.  
8. The Scientific Commission for Animal Disea se had recommended that Belize receive that 
recognition based on its ability to provide scientific ju stification to prove its historical freedom from 
FMD.  In that regard, Members may recall that in the elaboration of what is now document G/SPS/48:  
"Guidelines to Further the Practical Implementation of Article 6 of the Agreement on the Application 
of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures", Beli ze and other Caribbean Countries proposed that 
paragraph 32 (d) be included under the Exped ited Process for Recognition of Free Status:    G/SPS/GEN/861 
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  Paragraph 32 (d) "when there has been no previously notified occurrence of the pest or 
disease and the importing Member agrees that the surveillance procedures and activities 
implemented by the exporting Memb er have shown the non-existence thereof, the territory of 
the Member in question shall be considered free of that pest or disease." 
9. Belize would like to encourage Members to comply with the provisions of the SPS 
Agreement and the standards, guidelines and recomme ndations as set by the international standard-
setting organizations recognized by the SPS Agreement. 
10. In conclusion, Belize is free of food and mouth disease without vaccination and has also 
received that recognition from the OIE; it has been  an active Member of the OIE since 2001 and 
presently serves as the Secretary General (2007-2009) of the regional OIE commission for the 
Americas; and has recently had its veterinary service evaluated by OIE experts using the OIE Performance of Veterinary Services instrument. 
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