WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/948 
18 June 2009 
 
 (09-3004) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
  
 
ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL 
ORGANIZATION FOR PLANT AND ANIMAL HEALTH (OIRSA) 
RELATING TO THE AGREEMENT ON THE APPLICATION 
OF SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
 
Report to the 45
th Meeting of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures , 
22 to 24 June 2009  
   The following communication, received on 17 June 2009, is being circulated at the request of 
OIRSA
. 
 
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1. Specific support for agricultural production chains 
1. In conjunction with national sanitary and phytosanitary aut horities and the private sector, 
OIRSA is continuing to implement sanitary and phytosanitary programmes in support of agri-food 
chains.  The following action has been taken over the past three months. 
Honduras  
 
2. Concerning the poultry production chain, OIRSA has helped Honduras obtain recognition as a 
country free from trade-restrictive diseases, by stre ngthening its quarantine inspection service and the 
National Laboratory for Residue Analysis (LANAR). 
Nicaragua  
 3. The following action was taken under the phyto sanitary programme in support of the fruit and 
vegetable production chain: 
(a) Continuing technical and economic support for the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock 
and Forestry (MAGFOR) in implementing th e programme to maintain the citrus 
leprosis-free status of the Departments of Rivas and Río San Juan.  The Costa Rican authorities have recognized the status of these areas, thus facilitating the import of 
72,000 tonnes of fresh fruit from Nicaragua; 
(b) technical support for the MAGFOR authorities with a view to having the area north 
of Lake Xolotlán declared free from Ceratitis capitata ;  an area of 484 km.
2 has been 
declared free by ministerial decision.  To secure recognition of that status, discussions 
are under way between the Nicaraguan au thorities and the US Department of 
Agriculture (USDA);  and G/SPS/GEN/948 
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  (c) preparation of factsheets to spread techni cal information on agricultural health.  The 
latest articles published were:  (i) "Áre as libres de moscas de las frutas, una 
oportunidad para invertir" (Fruit fly-free areas, an opportunity for investment);  (ii) "MAGFOR y OIRSA en alerta contra el Thrips Palmi" (MAGFOR and OIRSA on the alert to combat Thrips Palmi );  and (iii) "Urge activar plan de contingencia contra 
Huanglongbing de los cítricos" (Urgent n eed for a contingency plan to combat 
huanglongbing disease of citrus). 
El Salvador
 
 4. Within the framework of the programme in s upport of the swine production chain, in April 
the national veterinary services declared El Salva dor free from classical swine fever.  A three-phase 
programme had to be implemented over a four -year period in order to achieve that goal: 
(a) Control phase (2004 – 2006):  Two immuni zation campaigns, covering 100 per cent 
of the national territory and more than 80 per cent of the hog population, were carried 
out for the benefit of 136,872 small-scale breeders. 
(b) The eradication phase was completed in  2007:  During this phase the national 
authorities banned the use of vaccines, st epped up epidemiological surveillance, 
tested blood samples for antibodies and can celled import authorization for biological 
products for classical swine fever.  Diagnos tic techniques were improved, as was the 
capacity of the Veterinary Diagnostic and Quality Control Laboratory. 
(c) The epidemiological surveillance phase  was conducted from 2008 to March 2009:  
the second sampling was carried out all over the country, involving backyard hogs in 
semi-industrial and industrial farms, market s, slaughterhouses and sentinel farms;  the 
health education and outreach campaign was stepped up, with more stringent control 
of hog movements including surveillance at sea ports, airports and borders.  Finally, 
the Emergency Plan was activated. 
 El Salvador was declared free from classical swine fever in April 2009. 
  In addition to providing financial support for the programme, OIRSA carried out inspections 
and technical audits during this time.  Panama
 
 
5. The following action was taken under the phytos anitary programme in support of the fruit 
production chain: 
(a) Technical and financial support to maintain the Azuero Peninsula's status as an area 
free from the Mediterranean fruit fly.  Prom otion of this area through technical 
assistance for 40 ha. of papaya for export; 
(b) technical and financial support to maintain the Thrips palmi –free area through 
containment of the pest in the Arco Seco region of Panama;  and 
(c) technical and financial support to contain Anastrepha grandis , also known as the 
South American curcurbit fruit fly, in the province of Darién (bordering on Colombia) and the rest of the province of Panama.  G/SPS/GEN/948 
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  Guatemala  
 6. Under the regional programme for the prevention,  control and eradication of classical swine 
fever, OIRSA is cooperating with the Guatemalan au thorities so that the country can be declared free 
from the disease by late 2009.  The implementing strategy for the control and eradication programmes 
in Nicaragua and Honduras was re-directed in or der to achieve the objective of declaring both 
countries free from the disease within the next couple of years. 
2. Training, technical assistance and dissemination activities relating to agricultural health 
and trade 
7. An audit of eight fisheries was conducted in Honduras in cooperation with SENASA 
specialists.  The visit covered five plants in La Ce iba and another three in Roatán, and six vessels.  A 
report was presented to each plant during the visit and at the final meeting with the official veterinary 
inspectors and plant management and staff.  A meeting was held with technical experts from the Tilapia production sector to review and analyse th e European regulations on aquaculture, the use of 
veterinary drugs (specifically Meth yltestosterone for the induction of sex reversal in fry in the initial 
weeks of life), and implementation of the Residue and Contaminant Control Plan. 
8. In Belize, OIRSA is providing support to the national authorities by offering the technical 
assistance of international and regional experts to combat the recent outbreak of huanglongbing 
("citrus greening") disease.  This has led to the implementation of contingency measures and the 
development of a control strategy.  Under a regi onal emergency fund, OIRSA is also helping the 
Dominican Republic and Belize with the impl ementation of their respective programmes. 
9. Jointly organized by the Univer sity of Panama and OIRSA, with Dr Arturo Goldarazena of 
Spain's Instituto NEIKER as the key speaker, th e Regional Course on Thysanoptera, focusing on 
Thrips palmi  and control of the pest, was held in Panama from 20 to 25 April 2009. 
10. In a joint venture between the Dominican Repub lic's Ministry of Agriculture, Fundecitrus 
(Brazil), INRA (France), APHIS (United States) and OIRSA, the First Regional HLB Course was 
held in the Dominican Republic from 27 April to 1 May 2009. 
11. In Panama, a workshop on traceability issues, organized by the National Directorate of 
Animal Health of the Ministry of Agricultura l Development (MIIDA) discussed the topic "EU 
sanitary requirements for fisheries and aquaculture  products and traceability system for fisheries and 
aquaculture products".  OIRSA also coordinated the revision of the draft Hazard Analysis in the Cultured Shrimp Production Chain and the draft Tracing Guide for the Shrimp Farming Chain from 
the standpoint of end product safety. 
12. In Nicaragua, technical audits were performed in  five establishments authorized to export to 
the European Union.  An action plan based on the recommendations made by the FVO/DG-SANCO 
in its 2006 inspection report has b een established and implemented. 
13. In Costa Rica, the State Phytosan itary Service was given help in preparing for the next visit of 
the European Commission's DG-SANCO on pesticide residues in plant products.  A pre-evaluation 
visit was made to seven pineapple farms, one mango farm and one melon farm, each of which 
received a technical report detailing the results of th e visit, and a general report was provided to the 
members of the Governing Board of the Nationa l Chamber of Pineapple Producers and Exporters 
(CANAPEP). 
14. In Guatemala, OIRSA helped the national au thorities prepare for the DGSANCO's visit to 
inspect fish farms for veterinary drug residues in  animal products.  Producers and experts covered by G/SPS/GEN/948 
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  the Agro-CAFTA programme received training in ma ximum chemical residue levels in food (proper 
and integrated use of pesticides) and Good Agricultural Practice. 
3. Support for the regional harmonization process 
15. The countries of the OIRSA region jointly d eclared a phytosanitary state of emergency 
following the emergence of HLB foci.  Measu res were taken to detect the bacterium  Candidatus  
Liberibacter spp . and its vectors, Diaphorina citri and Trioza erytreae . 
16. Under the Regional Contingency Plan for the Control and/or Eradication of Fruit Flies of 
Quarantine Importance, which has been adjusted to deal with the South American curcurbit fruit fly 
Anastrepha grandis , introduced into Panama and officially d eclared present in the national territory in 
May 2009, phytosanitary measures are being harmonized in terms of: 
(a) Emergency and containment measures unde r a standard regulatory framework; 
(b) methodology suited for trapping in cucurbits  (trap height, food attractants);  and 
(c) eradication of foci, applica tion equipment and insecticide. 
 The Plan is in line with International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 
No. 6 (Guidelines for surveillance), No. 8 (Det ermination of pest status in an area) and 
No. 9 (Guidelines for pest eradication programmes). 
 17. A PCR protocol for HLB diagnosis, developed by the University of Florida, is being 
implemented in HLB-affected OIRSA countries, us ing DNA isolation of the bacterium from the veins 
of affected citrus leaves. 
18. Harmonization of the region's position in interna tional fora has been achieved by analysing 
the draft amendments to the Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Codes and the revision of draft 
ISPMs. 
19. The Poultry Regional Technical Committee, the Technical Committee and the Council of 
Ministers (CIRSA) have adopted the following five  sets of regional guidelines regulating the regional 
poultry industry: 
(a) Technical guidelines regulating the regional poultry industry; 
(b) Health technical guidelines for the prevention, control and eradication of avian 
influenza; 
(c) Health technical guidelines for the preventi on, control and eradication of Newcastle 
disease; 
(d) Health technical guidelines for the prev ention, control and eradication of 
pullorum-typhoid disease;  and 
(e) Regional technical guidelines regulating th e inspection and certification of poultry 
establishments. 
  G/SPS/GEN/948 
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  4. Strengthening of national institutions in order to facilitate trade 
20. In Honduras and the Dominican Republic, OIRSA provides continued support for the national 
sanitary and phytosanitary committees. 
5. Strategic alliances for promoting health and trade 
21. A cooperation agreement was signed between the Ge neral Secretariat of the Central American 
Integration System (SICA) and OIRSA with a view  to creating conditions conducive to animal and 
plant health and to facilitating trade in the region's agricultural products. 
22. Under the project in support of the Central Am erican fisheries and aquaculture integration 
process (PRIPESCA), OIRSA is working with the Or ganization for the Fisheries and Aquaculture 
Sector of the Central American Isthmus (OSPESCA)  to draft manuals on good aquaculture practice. 
6. Strengthening of inter-institutional relations with other international bodies 
23. OIRSA will support the OIE in coordinating th e Inter-American Aquatic Animal Health 
Committee. 
24. The draft technical cooperation programme with the FAO to monitor the Influenza A subtype 
H1N1 virus among hog populations in Central Ameri ca and neighbouring countries is currently being 
revised. 
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