. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/712 
7 July 2006 
 
 (06-3294) 
Committee on Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
 
 
 
HEALTH STATUS REPORT 
 
Statement by Paraguay at the Meeting Held on 27 and 28 June 2006  
 
 
 The following communication, received on 6 July 2006, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Paraguay.  
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I. BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY 
1. Since 1996 Paraguay has maintained a preventiv e epidemiological surveillance programme in 
accordance with OIE standards to  prevent the entry of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).  
Continued surveillance enabled us, in the year 2000,  to gain the status of Geographical BSE Risk 1 
Country, granted by the Scientific Committee of the European Communities and renewed in 
subsequent years. 
2. On 27 February of this year the OIE informed  the official service that the OIE Scientific 
Commission for Animal Diseases had accepted the Ad  Hoc Group's recommendation, with the result 
that on 25 May this year the International Committee of the World Organization for Animal Health 
certified Paraguay as a country "pr ovisionally free from BSE", in accord ance with Article 2.3.13.4 of 
the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code. 
II. AVIAN INFLUENZA 
3. The Paraguayan National Animal Quality and Health Service (SENACSA) has implemented 
the National Surveillance and Prevention Plan for Av ian Influenza, taking as its reference the project 
presented by the Permanent Veterinary Committ ee on Regional Strategies for this disease, and 
following the guidelines provided by international bodies. 
4. Furthermore, restrictions have been placed on bird imports and products at risk from avian 
influenza from countries affected by the disease. 
III. FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE 
5. The National Programme for the Eradication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) was initiated 
in 1992.  In 1997 Paraguay was certified by the Wo rld Organization for Animal Health as being an  
"FMD free country where vaccination is practiced", a status that was renewed annually until 2002.  
Following the suspension of that status owing to re-appearance of the disease in the Corpus Christi 
district in the Department of Canindeyú, the coun try regained its health status as an "FMD free 
country where vaccination is practised" in May 2005 and was recertified by the OIE at its last 
ordinary meeting in May 2006. G/SPS/GEN/712 
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  6. Paraguay's health status has remained st able, thanks to the timely and efficient 
implementation of the "Animal Health Warning and Emergency" plans, coupled with the "Emergency 
Strategic Vaccination Plans" in the wake of the events that occurred in the border areas. 
7. In fulfilment of one of the strategies of the National Programme for the Eradication of Foot-
and-Mouth Disease, the second stage of FMD vaccin ation for the current year will begin throughout 
the national territory from 15 July to 15 August.  It will cover the whole of the cattle population. 
IV. TRACEABILITY 
8. In January of this year the Traceability Sy stem of Paraguay (SITRAP) was introduced, 
incorporating the registration of livestock establishmen ts, the individual identification of animals, and 
the control of the movement of animals and products.  This will help to improve the efficiency and 
effectiveness of traceability and thus make it easier to respond to health emergencies and to deal with 
disease control and the certification of exports.  
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