WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/579 
27 June 2005 
 
 (05-2734) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
  
 
 
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK 
OF THE WTO AGREEMENT ON THE APPLICATION 
OF SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
 
Communication from Peru
 
   The following communication, dated 22 June 2005,  is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Peru. 
 
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I. BACKGROUND 
1. On 6 March 2003, Peru  submitted a questionnaire on technical assistance 
(G/SPS/295/Add.31) in which it requested support in specific areas relating to the Agreement on the 
Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measu res (SPS).  The questionnaire made particular 
reference to technical assistance requirements fo r the proper implementation of the SPS Agreement 
and for food safety and animal and plant health. 
2. In the present document, we would like to defi ne our request for cooperation in more specific 
terms to reflect the current reality  of SPS management in Peru.  
II. SYSTEM FOR THE MONITORING AND CONTROL OF CONTAMINANTS IN 
PRIMARY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION 
3. Through its national agrarian health authority, Peru is implementing a system to monitor and 
control agricultural safety.  To this end, a new regulation on the organization and functions of the 
National Agrarian Health Service (SENASA) was approved under Supreme 
Decree No. 008-2005-AG, thereby establishing the Directorate of Agricultural Inputs and Food 
Safety.  This new directorate houses the Department of Food Safety, the aim of which is to contribute 
to the protection of consumer health and th e competitiveness of the ag ricultural sector, whilst 
improving the safety of agricultural production. 
4. A new state-of-the-art reference centre for the control of toxic residues and the quality of 
agricultural inputs is being set up in order to lend scientific support to SENASA in ensuring the safety 
of agricultural production. 
5. For the new reference centre to become operati onal, Peru requires technical cooperation in the 
following specific areas: 
(a) Assistance from international experts to establish and implement methods and 
protocols for sampling and analysing chem ical contaminants (veterinary drugs, G/SPS/GEN/579 
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 chemical pesticides, heavy metals, etc.).   Such methods and protocols must be 
consistent with the official standards and procedures of our trading partners. 
(b) Expert technical assistance to im plement HACCP, ISO 9000, ISO 17025 and other 
quality assurance systems for the components of the system to monitor and control the safety of agricultural production. 
(c) Internships in recognized laboratories fo r specialists from the Reference Centre for 
the Control of Toxic Residues and the Quality of Agricultural Inputs. 
6. This support would allow the quality and safety of agricultural products to be ensured, both 
for domestic and foreign consumers,  and would help to overcome rest rictions on Peruvian agricultural 
exports. 
 
III. RISK ANALYSIS IN ANIMAL HEALTH AND ZOONOSES 
7. Peru has been making significant efforts to improve animal health and support international 
trade in agricultural products by eradicating prio rity diseases and reinforcing its quarantine control 
and protection systems. 
8. For instance, since 1998, within the framework of OIE (World Organization for Animal 
Health) standards and guidelines, Peru has been im plementing a plan to control and eradicate foot-
and-mouth disease throughout the national territory, its  aim being to gain and maintain status as a 
country free from the disease.  In Peru, the current  situation as regards this disease is as follows: 
(i) 97.6 per cent of the territory is recognized under a national standard as free from foot-and-mouth 
disease without vaccination;  (ii) 2.4 per cent of the territory is recognized under a national standard 
as free from foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination.  In May 2005, the entire southern region of 
Peru
1, comprising ten departments, was recognized by the OIE as a foot-and-mouth disease-free 
zone where vaccination is not practised .2 
9. Peru's specific technical cooperation requirements are as follows: 
(a) It is essential to strengthen networks a nd systems for health emergency response and 
the maintenance of foot-and-mouth diseas e-free zones where vaccination is not 
practised3, for instance by training veterinary surgeons in the public and private 
sectors, implementing timely notification mechanisms and carrying out and assessing simulated health emergencies. 
(b) Identification of the main risks of entry and spread of exotic diseases, information on 
the worldwide distribution of zoonoses,  and the implementation of preventive 
measures aimed at protecting the countr y's livestock heritage and its exports. 
                                                     
 
 1 This region is home to 45 per cent of Peru's bovine population, 60 per cent of its ovine population, 
35 per cent of its caprine population, 29 per cent of its swine population and 94 per cent of its South American 
camelid population.  
 2 Adopted by the OIE International Committee on 25 May 2005, pursuant to the provisions of 
Chapter 2.2.10 of th e Terrestrial Code.  
 3 The participation of professionals from the Bolivian,  Chilean and Ecuadorian h ealth services, as well 
as the assistance of the Pan-American Foot-and-Mou th Disease Centre (PANAFTOSA/WHO/PAHO), would be 
desirable.  G/SPS/GEN/579 
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 (c) Training for monitoring and quarantine experts on electronic information systems 
used to identify and analyse animal health  risks;  implementation of animal health 
emergency plans. 
(d) Strengthening of mechanisms for liaison between the priorities and activities of 
animal health research centres and the prev ention and control duties of the official 
agrarian health authority. 
10. Contacts:   (a) Head of SENASA:  Dr Elsa Carbonell Torres:  ecarbonell@senasa.gob.pe
 
  (b) Director of Animal Health:  Dr Oscar Domínguez:  odominguez@senasa.gob.pe  
  (c) Director of Planning:  Mr Percy Barron:  pbarron@senasa.gob.pe   
 
 
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