WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/974 
26 October 2009 
 
 (09-5302) 
Committee on Sanitary and 
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 46th Meeting of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures , 
28 and 29 October 2009  
  
 The following communication, received on 23 Octo ber 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. 
Belize
 
 
2. For the fruit production chain, OIRSA coor dinated technical assistance provided by 
Dr Joseph Bové, a plant pathologist from France's Agricultural Research In stitute (INRA), for the 
control of huanglongbing (HLB) disease. 
3. OIRSA supported Belize with an emergency fund of US$50,000 to deal with the 
HLB regional emergency.  The disease was detected  in Belize in May 2009.  A plan of action was 
drawn up together with the authorities concerned and the industry with a view to its implementation. 
4. The Belize Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) received emergency financing in the 
amount of US$700,000, drawn from OIRSA funds earm arked for Mexico, from Mexico's Ministry of 
Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheri es and Food (SAGARPA), in order to establish an 
HLB control plan. 
Honduras  
 5. In the fruit production chain, OIRSA supporte d the programme for Mediterranean fruit 
fly-free areas and containment of other fruit flies, th e citrus pest (HLB and citrus leprosis) prevention 
and control programme, and the continge ncy plan for HLB and containment of Thrips Palmi  in 
cucurbits and oriental plants or mini plants for export. G/SPS/GEN/974 
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  (a) Support for the detection of HLB and its in sect vector, covering the citrus-growing 
areas adjacent to the Aguán valley to begin with. 
(b) The programme for Mediterranean fru it fly-free areas in Honduras will receive 
support in the form of prime fruit genetic mate rial (pest-resistant or -tolerant) for the 
pest-free areas and identification of support in the mango fly ( Anastrepha oblique ) 
and Mexican citrus fruit fly ( Anastrepha ludens ) breeding and sterilization laboratory. 
(c) Technical assistance for citrus leprosis cont rol included phytosanitary pruning, since 
this is a viral disease transmitted by an acarian,  and the use of trapping shrubs such as 
the achiote ( Bixa orellana ). 
Nicaragua
 
 
6. The following activities were implemented under the phytosanitary programme in support of 
the fruit and vegetable production chain: 
(a) With the support of the United States Depart ment of Agriculture - Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (USDA/AHIS),  60 MAGFOR phytosanitary and quarantine 
inspectors received training on the following topics:  (1) HLB, sampling and dispatch 
of samples, and contingency plan;  (2) fru it chain operation;  (3) citrus leprosis;  
(4) Thrips palmi ;  (5) pests of quarantine significance such as the red palm and 
musacea mite. 
(b) Preparation of the factsheet on  Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense  Tropical Race 4  
(TR4). 
El Salvador  
 7. The following action was taken under the phytos anitary programme in support of the fruit 
production chain: 
(a) Training of Plant Health Department offici als in the Ministry of Agriculture and 
Livestock to deal with HLB, citrus leprosis, Anastrepha grandis  and other pests of 
quarantine significance. 
(b) Detection of HLB in citrus-growing areas. 
(c) Keynote address on phytosanitary threats to regional fruit production and their impact 
on agribusiness, at the Fifth World Agribusiness Forum on tropical fruits. 
(d) Establishment of the National Citrus Phytosanitary Commission. 
Panama
 
 8. The following action was taken under the phytos anitary programme in support of the fruit 
production chain: 
(a) Continued support for the National Plant Health Directorate of the Ministry of 
Agricultural Development (MIDA) in main taining, recognizing and promoting the 
Azuero Peninsula as an area free from the Mediterranean fruit fly.  OIRSA provided 
support in setting up five internal quarantine posts at the main points of entry to the  G/SPS/GEN/974 
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  Peninsula, in order to reduce the risk of the Mediterranean fruit fly being introduced 
in the pest-free area. 
(b) OIRSA's contingency plan for flies of quarantine significance was activated 
following the emergence, in February 2009, of the South American curcurbit fly (Anastrepha grandis ) in specific parts of the province of Darién (bordering on 
Colombia) and the commune of Chepo in the province of Panama.  The outbreak was 
circumscribed and a chemical control,  trapping and sampling programme was 
implemented.  Training and outreach activities were also organized. 
(c) Continued support for containment of Thrips palmi  in the Arco Seco region, 
maintaining insect populations under Thrips  terminal outbreak levels.  Assistance was 
provided in eliminating seven foci in the Renacimiento district in the province of 
Panama, which borders on Costa Rica. 
(d) Three regional teleconferences on Anastrepha grandis  were broadcast from Panama 
for the whole OIRSA region.  Participants in these events included scientific experts 
such as Allan Norrbom from USDA, Aldo Malavasi of Brazil, Cheslavo Korytkowski 
of Panama and the economist José Benavent of Panama.  Teleconferences were also 
held on HLB and Thrips palmi .  The teleconferences were attended by 226 technical 
personnel from the OIRSA region. 
(e) OIRSA is promoting the development of a Regional Citrus Network, made up of 
government officials, citrus growers, researchers and scientists with an interest in citrus plant health.  The network is c oordinated by the OIRSA office in Panama. 
(f) Maps have been drawn up to situate co mmercial citrus-growing areas and citrus 
leprosis and HLB outbreaks in the region. 
Guatemala
 
 9. Guatemala's health authorities declared th e country free from classical swine fever on 
9 October 2009.  Guatemala thus joins Belize, Co sta Rica, El Salvador, Panama and Mexico, which 
all have classical swine fever-free status in the regi on.  Guatemala has not reported any outbreak of 
classical swine fever since September 2007, and th e authorities therefore set August 2008 as the final 
month of the immunization phase.  Over the years during which the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) implemented the progr amme, financial support was provided by the 
Government of Chinese Taipei and technical assist ance by OIRSA, under the regional programme for 
the prevention, control and eradi cation of classical swine fever. 
Dominican Republic
 
 10. Under the phytosanitary programme in suppor t of the fruit production chain, continued 
support has been provided to the Secretariat of State for Agriculture (SEA) and to citrus-growers in 
order to combat an outbreak of HLB.  OIRSA rece ntly coordinated the visit of Dr Mike Irey, an 
expert from Southern Gardens, Florida. 
2. Training, technical assistance and dissemination activities relating to agricultural health 
and trade 
11. In El Salvador, the basic further training course on quarantine procedures for inspectors 
responsible for plant and animal health certificati on for trade was organized in coordination with the 
Directorate-General of Plant and Animal Health. G/SPS/GEN/974 
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  12. Also in El Salvador, a meeting of interest groups on the risks of Fusarium  TR4, BBTV 
(Banana Bunchy Top Virus) and other pests of mu saceae was held from 29 to 31 July 2009 for the 
OIRSA region, Latin America and the Caribbean.  The meeting was sponsored by OIRSA, Bioversity 
International and MUSALAC.  The objectives were as follows:  (a) to inform interest groups about 
the rapid spread of Fusarium  TR4 in the Pacific region of Asia and to alert OIRSA member countries 
to this threat to the region;  (b) to discuss and en courage the intensification of phytosanitary measures 
at points of entry in order to prevent introduction of the pathogen in the OIRSA region;  and (c) to 
discuss the Fusarium  TR4 and BBTV pathogens and other re gulated quarantine and non-quarantine 
pests with a view to establishing a regional phyt osanitary programme to combat these banana and 
plantain pests.  The meeting was attended by mo re than 60 participants, including growers of 
musaceae from the OIRSA region, plant health offi cials from OIRSA member countries, scientists 
and researchers specializing in pests of musaceae fro m various countries, and OIRSA officials posted 
in countries of the region. 
13. In Belize, a training course on communication methods and legal drafting was organized for 
all quarantine staff. 
14. With the support of the Ministries or Secretaria ts of Agriculture and Livestock of the OIRSA 
member countries, activities have begun to dete rmine the prevalence of bovine brucellosis and 
tuberculosis in Central America. 
15. In the Dominican Republic, a working visit in su pport of the SEA was made to follow up on 
the Action Plan - Pesticide Residue Monitoring  in Food of Plant Origin, of the European 
Commission's Directorate General for Health  and Consumer Affairs (DG SANCO), 2008. 
16. In Panama, a regional course on fruit fly taxonomy and ecology was jointly organized by the 
Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), the University of Panama and OIRSA. 
17. Also in Panama, Azuero producers and experts received training in good agricultural practice 
for papaya growing. 
18. In Costa Rica, OIRSA helped sen ior officials of the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) of the 
Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock prepare for th e monitoring of pesticide residue in food of plant 
origin due to be conducted by the DG SANCO's Food and Veterinary Office. 
19. In Nicaragua, a regional congress on traceability and good agricultural practice was organized 
in coordination with the Producers and Expor ters Association of Nicaragua (APEN). 
3. Support for the regional harmonization process 
20. In El Salvador, a regional workshop reviewed draft international standards for phytosanitary 
measures (ISPM) submitted for consultation by the I PPC Secretariat.  The workshop was held under 
the auspices of OIRSA, in its capacity as regional phytosanitary protection agency, and was attended 
by delegates from eight of the nine member countries.   The participants agreed on and used templates 
to enter comments on the following draft ISPMs:  (1 ) revision of ISPM 7:  Phytosanitary export 
certification system;  (2) revision of ISPM 12:  Gu idelines for phytosanitary certificates;  (3) draft 
ISPM:  Design and operation of pos t-entry quarantine stations;  a nd (4) Glossary of phytosanitary 
terms (amendment to ISPM 5).  The comments were then sent to the IPPC Secretariat. 
4. 
Support for the development of risk analysis 
21. In Panama, OIRSA helped the national authoriti es prepare risk analysis technical factsheets 
on the following quarantine pests:  HLB and Anastrepha grandis .  G/SPS/GEN/974 
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  5. Strengthening of national institutions in order to facilitate trade 
22. In Honduras and the Dominican Republic, OI RSA provided continuing support for the 
national sanitary and phytosanitary committees 
6. Strategic alliances for promoting health and trade 
23. The presidency of the Inter-American Develo pment Bank (IDB) has approved the project 
entitled "Harmonized System of Bovine Traceability in Central America and the 
Dominican Republic".  The project will be financed  by the IDB, OIRSA and Belize, Costa Rica, the 
Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicar agua and Panama.  Its aim is to establish a 
harmonized regional traceability system to help impr ove animal health, food security and safety and 
competitiveness of the livestock sector in these countries. 
24. The first meeting for the regional IAEA/OIR SA project 2009-2011 en titled "Establishing and 
Maintaining Fruit Fly Free and Low Prevalence Areas in Central America, Panama and Belize, Using 
the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) (ARCAL CVI)" (No. RLA/5/057) was held in Guatemala.  The meeting, which was attended by th e coordinators of fruit fly programmes in the region, reviewed the 
current status of Mediterranean fruit fly-free areas in each country and identified programme needs. 
25. OIRSA will support the strategic plan for the dete ction, delimitation, treatment and quarantine 
of HLB and the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) in Belize,  Mexico and the United States, in order to protect 
citrus-growing areas from damage from this pest and its vector.  The plan was jointly developed and 
agreed by the Belize Agricultural Health Aut hority (BAHA), USDA/APHIS and SAGARPA, through 
the Directorate-General of Plant Health (DGSV), in conjunction with the citrus industry in the 
countries concerned. 
7. Strengthening of inter-institutional relations with other international bodies 
26. Projects TCP/RLA/3206 and OSRO/RLA/901/USA, which are aimed at stepping up 
surveillance of influenza A subtype H1N1 virus in swine populations in Central America and 
neighbouring countries have been signed and activiti es launched.  These projects will help understand 
the virus, its form mode of emergence and the ri sks of transmission and spread from swine to human 
populations. 
 For further information or comments on this report, please contact:  Edwin Mauricio Aragón 
Rojas, e-mail:  earagon@oirsa.org
, or visit the OIRSA website at:  http://www.oirsa.org . 
 
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