WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/GEN/1172 
10 July 2012 
 (12-3703) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original: Spanish 
  
 
ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL 
ORGANIZATION FOR PLANT AND ANIMAL HEALTH (OIRSA) 
RELATING TO THE WTO AGREEMENT ON THE 
APPLICATION OF SANITARY AND 
PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
 
Report to the 54th Meeting of the Committ ee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures 
10–11 July 2012 
 
 
 The following communication, received on 6 July 2012, is being circulated at the request 
of OIRSA. 
 
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 1. Training, technical assistance and dissemination activities relating to agricultural health 
and trade 
1. Information sessions for food exporters on the impact of the United States Food Safety 
Modernization Act (FSMA) were held in the Domi nican Republic in coordination with the Agrifood 
Safety Department (DIA) of the Ministry of Agriculture (MA) and the Dominican Exporters 
Association (ADOEXPO), within the framework of the IDB-MIF/ADOEXPO Project.  The sessions 
were attended by over 150 exporters fro m small and medium-sized enterprises. 
2. In the Dominican Republic, technical materi als for training small-scale producers in the 
prevention, control and eradication of avian diseases were designed and distributed. 
3. In Panama, a regional workshop on the use of liquid chromatography-tandem mass 
spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and the control of food contaminants was held, in coordination with the 
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA/FAO) and the National Plant Health Directorate of the 
Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), for th e staff of pesticide residue analysis laboratories 
in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic. 
4. In the uplands of Chiriquí Province in Pa nama, OIRSA provided technical assistance in 
implementing the emergency plan to combat tomato leaf miner ( Tuta absoluta ). 
5. In Panama, a national workshop on bovine traceabil ity and its importance, analysis of the 
legal framework and Panama's plan of action was conducted in coordination with the MIDA and the 
Ministry of Health (MINSA). 
6. Technical assistance was provided for the prepara tion and approval by all parties of Panama's 
Livestock Traceability Law and for drawing up the implementation plan. G/SPS/GEN/1172 
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  7. In coordination with the Division responsible for the safety of food of animal origin (DIPOA) 
in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock's Directorate-General of Livestock and El Salvador's honey subsector, an all-day training session on the post-harvest handling of honey was attended by 
more than 60 producers and officials. 
8. In Honduras, the second theoretical and practi cal refresher training course on white shrimp 
(Penaeus vannamei ) immunology was held in coordination with the National Agricultural Health 
Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Liv estock (SENASA/SAG), the National Association of 
Aquaculture Producers of Honduras (ANDAH) a nd the Organization for the Fisheries and 
Aquaculture Sector of the Central American Isthmus (OSPESCA). 
9. In Honduras, the regional training workshop fo r trainers in good agricultural practices 
(advanced level) was organized in coordination with SENASA/SAG's Food Safety Division (DIA), 
the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a nd the Joint Institute for Food Safety and 
Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN).  The workshop was attended by 25 official technicians from the 
nine OIRSA member countries, 42 technical personnel from the Honduran fruit and vegetable 
subsectors and six JIFSAN-FDA instructors. 
10. A presentation on the factors limiting the quality of fisheries products destined for domestic 
and regional trade within Central America and on how to overcome them was given during a regional 
workshop on market access and value chains in fish eries and aquaculture, organized by the Centre for 
Marketing Information and Advisory Services fo r Fishery Products in Latin America and the 
Caribbean (INFOPESCA/FAO) and
 the Directorate-General of Fisheries and Aquaculture 
(DIGEPESCA/SAG). 
11. In coordination with SENASA/SAG's Food Sa fety Division (Honduras) and support from the 
Spanish National Association of Fish and Seaf ood Canning Manufactures and Technical Centre for 
the Preservation of Fish and Aquaculture Products  (ANFACO-CECOPESCA), the technical staff of 
the National Residues Laboratory (LANAR) was given a dvice and theoretical and practical training in 
the procedure for validating methods for the analysis  of heavy metals, bisulfite and veterinary drug 
residues, so as to ensure compliance with Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004 relating to the placing of 
aquaculture products on the European market. 
12. A pre-audit of good aquaculture practices and hygiene and safety of farmed shrimp was 
conducted in Honduras, in coordination with  SENASA/SAG's Food Safety Division. 
13. OIRSA gave logistical and technical support for the Ninth Central American and 
Caribbean Congress on Apicultural Integration and M odernization, organized by the National Animal 
Health Service of the Ministry of Agriculture  and Livestock (SENASA/MAG) of Costa Rica and 
the Central American and Caribbean Beekeepers Federation (FEDECCAPI).  OIRSA made two presentations on the new challenges facing the beekeeping industry to meet European Union 
requirements and on the achievements of the OIRSA Ad Hoc Group on Apicultural Health and Safety 
in the field of apiculture in Central America and the Caribbean.  The event was attended by more than 
400 officials and honey producers and exporters fro m Central America and the Dominican Republic. 
14. A refresher seminar on European legislation relating to the hygiene and safety of fisheries 
products was held in Guatemala, in coordination w ith the Department of Animal and Hydrobiological 
Products of the Food Safety Directorate of the Vice -Ministry of Agricultural Health and Regulations 
(VISAR)/Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA). 
15. In Guatemala, support was provided to the Department of Animal and Hydrobiological 
Products of the VISAR/MAGA Food Safety Directorate in the form of a pre-audit on the hygiene and 
safety of fisheries products (farmed shrimp), in accordance with European Union requirements, to  G/SPS/GEN/1172 
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  prepare for an inspection visit by the authorities of  the Food and Veterinary Office of the European 
Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Consumers (FVO/DG-SANCO). 
16. Guatemala received technical and logistical s upport in preparing and implementing a project 
to determine the presence or absen ce of the small hive beetle ( Aethina tumida ) in the border area 
between Guatemala and Mexico. 
17. In Nicaragua, the Department of Agri cultural and Food Safety (DIA) of the 
Directorate-General of Agricultural Protection and Health (DGPSA)/Ministry of Agriculture, 
Livestock and Forestry (MAGFOR) was given s upport in reviewing the implementation of the 
national plan to monitor residues in farmed shrimp for export to the European Union. 
18. Support was also provided to the authoriti es of Nicaragua's DIA/DGPSA/MAGFOR in 
reviewing the programme for the institutional st rengthening of the milk product inspection and 
control system. 
19. Under FAO-OIRSA technical cooperation pr oject TCP/RLA 3311, 14 public and private 
citrus sector participants from the nine OIRSA member countries a ttended the International Workshop 
on Citrus Quarantine Pests, held in Mexico. 
20. The regional apiculture laboratory ongoing training workshop took place in Mexico. 
21. Twelve health education and communication campaigns on avian diseases and immunization 
against avian influenza, Newcastle disease and fo wl typhoid were conducted in Guatemala, 
El Salvador and Nicaragua. 
22. Training workshops on the validation of laboratory techniques for diagnosing classical 
swine fever were held in Pana ma and the Dominican Republic. 
23. Studies were carried out with a view to promo ting the eligibility of regional poultry products 
on international markets. 
24. The manual on the pathology, diagnosis and cont rol of the main pests and diseases affecting 
honey bees was published and distributed. 
25. Two thousand handbooks on safet y measures in small and medium-sized semi-mechanized 
pig farms, 2,000 handbooks on the building of pig-farming facilities,  2,000 handbooks on pig feeding 
with available farm resources, and 2,000 manuals  on backyard pig breeding were produced and 
distributed. 
26. OIRSA is continuing to provide technical assi stance to the Ministry of Agriculture and 
Fisheries (MAF) and the Health and Agriculture Authority (BAHA) of Belize in implementing the 
bovine traceability system (information system and legal framework) and the scanning project aimed 
at determining the prevalence of bovine brucellosis and tuberculosis in the national herd, which will 
facilitate the export of live cattle from Belize to Mexico. 
2. Support for the harmonization and equivalence process 
27. OIRSA provided support for the participati on of four delegates of National Codex 
Alimentarius Committees in the 35th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. G/SPS/GEN/1172 
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  28. In its capacity as a Regional Plant Protection Organization (RPPO), OIRSA took part in the 
seventh meeting of the Commission on Phytosanit ary Measures (CPM) of the International Plant 
Protection Convention (IPPC). 
29. In El Salvador, a workshop with a view to harmonizing regional regulations for the 
certification of citrus fruit nurseries was held  under FAO-OIRSA technical cooperation project 
TCP/RLA 3311. 
30. A regional workshop to harmonize bovine traceability standards was held in El Salvador. 
31. In the Dominican Republic, a workshop was held  to standardize avian guidelines for trade 
facilitation and draw up new guidelines on excreta management and control and on biosafety in 
poultry holdings. 
3. Support for regionalization (establishment of  pest-/disease-free and low-prevalence 
areas, development of protocols for their recognition) 
32. In Nicaragua, technical and financial support is still being provided for the programme 
to maintain the northern part of Lake Xolotlá n as an area free from the Mediterranean fruit fly 
(Ceratitis capitata ). 
33. In Nicaragua, technical and financial assistance  was provided for the citrus leprosis-free area 
programme, the citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) cont rol programme and the programme to maintain 
Nicaragua's status as a country free from the pink bollworm. 
34. The guidelines for the inspection and certification of farms and pest-/disease-free areas were 
revised and updated. 
4. Prevention, control and eradication ac tivities (programmes or campaigns) 
35. The regional emergency programme for the control of classical swine fever in Guatemala is 
being implemented, along with control and pr evention measures in neighbouring countries. 
36. In order to support citrus HLB control measures, OIRSA is implementing technical 
cooperation project TCP/RLA 3311 with the FAO, at a cost of half a million dollars over a two-year period.  The project is centred on techni cal assistance in the areas of control, citrus 
regulations, surveillance and diagnostics. 
37. In addition, details are being finalized for th e launching of the HLB and HLB vector control 
project, with support from Chinese Taipei's Intern ational Cooperation and De velopment Fund (ICDF).  
The emphasis is on technical assi stance, the transfer of technology and the production of healthy 
plants, using two germplasm banks and four greenhouses for shoot multiplication and applying 
integrated pest management. 
38. OIRSA visited Chinese Taipei to learn about the latter's technical and scientific experiences in 
managing HLB. 
39. In Nicaragua, technical and financial suppor t is being provided for the surveillance 
programme to prevent entry of tomato leaf miner ( Tuta absoluta ).  G/SPS/GEN/1172 
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  5. Strengthening of national institutions in order to facilitate trade 
40. With support from the WTO Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), Project 
STDF/284 aimed at strengthening the National SPS Committee (CNMSF) of Honduras is still 
ongoing.  A document entitled "Diagnos tic study on the incorporation of sanitary and phytosanitary 
measures (SPS) in undergraduate university curricula  in Honduras" was prepared over recent months.  
Moreover, in coordination with SENASA's Food Safety Division OIRSA reviewed and updated 
four regulations on inspection, sanitary approval a nd certification of milk and dairy products, poultry 
and poultry products, meat and meat products, and fresh and processed fruit and vegetables. 
41. The STDF Working Group approved the draft regional veterinary legislation for 
OIRSA member countries (STDF/PG/358). 
6. Strategic alliances for the promotion of health and trade 
42. Under the Cooperative Agreement between OIRS A and the North American Plant Protection 
Organization (NAPPO), OIRSA participated in th e meeting of the Citrus Panel, which saw the 
approval of NAPPO Standard 16 on the importati on of citrus propagative material into a 
NAPPO member country. 
43. OIRSA signed a technical cooperation framewo rk agreement with France's NORD/SIPRE 
Committee to provide support for regional training, technical assistance and research as well as support in managing the transfer of technology. 
44. In Guatemala, a working meeting was he ld with Guatemalan members of the 
Central American Parliament to analyse the regi onal implications of sanitary and phytosanitary 
measures within the framework of the European Un ion Association Agreement with Central America. 
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  In order to comment on this report or obtain additional information on plant health activities, 
please contact:  Edwin Aragón, e-mail:  earagon@oirsa.org 
 
 For more information on food safety, please contact:  Oscar García, e-mail:  ogarcia@oirsa.org   For any queries on animal health activities, please contact:  Abelardo de Gracia, e-mail:  adegracia@oirsapanama.org.pa 
 
 We invite you to visit our website:  http://www.oirsa.org 
 
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