WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/883 
7 October 2008 
 
 (08-4762) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
  
 
ACTIVITIES 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 43
rd Meeting of the Committee on  
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures,  
8 and 9 October 2008  
   The following communication, received on 4 October 2008, is being circulated at the request 
of the International Regional Organizati on for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA). 
 
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I. SPECIFIC SUPPORT FOR PRODUCTION CHAINS FOR AGRICULTURAL 
PRODUCTS 
1. The OIRSA, in coordination with national san itary and phytosanitary authorities and the 
private sector, has continued to implement sanita ry and phytosanitary programmes in support of 
agri-food chains.  The following action has been taken over the past three months. 
Honduras
 
 
2. In the context of the pig production chain, th e OIRSA continued to support action undertaken 
by the national authorities through the programme fo r the prevention, control and eradication of 
Classical Swine Fever (CSF), immunizing a total of 49,916 pigs in the departments of Atlántida y 
Cortés, in support of 8,476 small farmers.  W ith the progress made under this programme, the 
Honduran authorities consider that they are now at the eradication phase in 12 of the 14 departments 
in Honduras. 
3. The OIRSA supports the Technical Division of Animal Health in the National Agricultural 
Health Service (SENASA) in developing the traini ng programme for the eradication of CSF, in which 
28 officers and technicians took part. 
Nicaragua  
4. Under the phytosanitary programme in support of the fruit and vegetable production chain, 
the following action was undertaken: 
• Guidelines were prepared for undert aking audits of pest-free areas; 
 
• support for the Plant Health Department in preparing the list of non-regulated pests; 
 G/SPS/GEN/883 
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  • support for the Plant Health Department in preparing three-part documents on citrus 
leprosis, locusts and the technical bulletin on Thrips palmi ; 
 
• for the fourth consecutive year, technical  and financial support was given to the 
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (M AGFOR) for the implementation of the fruit-
fly free areas programme in the north part of Lake Xolotlán, which it is planned to 
declare a free area in the near future; 
 
• for the fifth consecutive year, technical and financial support was given to the 
MAGFOR for implementation of the citrus leprosis-free areas programme. 
 5. The OIRSA continues to assist the national aut horities with the implementation of a food 
production programme and held three tr aining courses for 80 women producers. 
Panama
 
 6. In support of the citrus and other fruit productio n chain, the following action was undertaken: 
• Continued support to 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 of Moscamed; 
 
• support for the MIDA in holding institu tional workshops which produced the 
document "Framework guidance for the de velopment and implementation of the 
Azuero plan for exports free of the Mediterranean fly"; 
 
• working sessions and tours for producers from Azuero for the purpose of training on 
services to farms and a packing centre for papaya exports to the United States.  As a 
result of these efforts, Azuero producers decided to sow the first 25 hectares of 
papaya for export in Azuero; 
 
• support for participation by a group of Panamanian technicians and producers in 
service training sessions on papaya exports in Belize and Guatemala. 
 
7. In support of the poultry production chain, the OIRSA held a refresher course on pathology, 
epidemiology and sample taking for avian influenza for veterinarians in the public health service. 
8. As part of the programme in support of the bovine production chain, the OIRSA continued 
with the programme to improve animal health diagnostic laboratories and with support for the 
campaign against brucellosis. 
9. Under the health programme for the fisheri es and aquaculture production chain, the OIRSA 
supported the establishment of the consulta tive ad hoc group on aquaculture health. 
Guatemala
 
 10. Under the health programme in support of the pig production chain, whose main objective is 
to prevent, control and eradicate classical swine fe ver (CSF), the authorities belonging to the Ministry 
of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) officially  declared Guatemala to be at the eradication 
phase, without vaccination, with the exception of the Department of El Petén, which was already free 
of CSF, complying with the in formation and procedures required by the International Office of 
Epizootics (OIE).  G/SPS/GEN/883 
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  II. TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES 
RELATING TO AGRICULTU RAL HEALTH AND TRADE 
11. In Nicaragua, during the International Congress of Melon Producers, a lecture was given on 
preventing contamination by Salmonella spp in the production of Cantaloupe melons;  over 
200 people attended this event.  Furthermore, two technical talks were given at the VIIIth Expo-APEN 
Fair on the following:  traceability and health requ irements for fruit and vegetables, attended by 
80 participants comprising producers, exporters and st udents.  Also in Nicaragua, during the training 
course for honey producers, a lecture was given on good apicultural practice and the manufacture of 
honey for over 100 beekeepers. 
12. In Guatemala, 25 technicians were trained:  two from the exporters' association 
(AGEXPORT), 15 from exporting firms, and eight  officials from the MAGA's Standards and 
Regulations Unit.  The following issues were cove red:  sanitary handling of fisheries products;  
organoleptic and chemical assessment;  microbial grow th factors;  programme prerequisites;  updated 
GMP, eight SSOP (fishing) and basic HACCP principles. 
13. In El Salvador, in support of the diploma pr ogramme on organic agriculture, talks were given 
to students on the implementation of good organic production practice and food safety. 
14. In Chile, during the "Regional Seminar on Pr ivate Standards for Plant Health and Food 
Safety;  the need for regional action to promote public assets," sponsored by the FAO, a talk was 
given on "The current situation in countries in th e region with regard to private standards and the 
performance of certification agencies". 
15. Under the regional project for the prevention of avian diseases, the following activities were 
carried out; 
• Updating of the emergency plans for deali ng with health emergencies in Central 
American countries; 
 
• training in poultry production and health in order to strengthen the biosafety systems 
on farms; 
 
• evaluation of poultry health programmes in the region. 
 
III. SUPPORT FOR THE REGIONAL  HARMONIZATION PROCESS 
16. In La Ceiba, Honduras, a regional workshop w as held to revise the draft International 
Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM), put befo re the countries for consultation in 2008 by the 
Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC):  (a) revision of ISPM No. 15 
"Guidelines for regulating wood packaging material in international trade ";  (b) " Classification of 
products according to their phytosanitary risk" ;  (c) Annex 1 to ISPM No. 26 [ Establishment of 
pest-free areas for fruit flies  (Tephritidae) ] "Fruit fly trapping ;  (d) Amendments to ISPM No. 5 
(Glossary of phytosanitary terms );  (e) Supplement to ISPM No. 5 " Terminology in the Biodiversity 
Convention relating to the glossary of phytosanitary terms ";  (f) " Structure and operation of post-
entry quarantine facilities ";  (g) " Pest-free micropropogation materials and mini potato tubers for 
international trade ".  The comments made at this workshop, sponsored by the OIRSA, were discussed 
at a Latin American workshop on revision of the draf t ISPM, sponsored by the FAO, held in Santiago, 
Chile.  
17. The OIRSA, as the regional phytosanitary protection organization within the IPPC, took part 
in the 20th Technical Consultation among Regional Plant Pr otection Organizations (RPPO), held at the G/SPS/GEN/883 
Page 4  
 
  FAO, Rome, at which a proposal was made on exchange of information on the presence, outbreak 
and/or dissemination of pests.  
18. In Panama, support was given to the MIDA's National Plant Health Department for the 
adoption of the following resoluti ons, based on the IPPC standards.  
• Resolution DAL-047-ADM-2008 of 7 July 2008.  ISPM Nos. 11 and 21 of the IPPC 
on pest risk analysis were adopted; 
 
• resolution DAL-048-ADM-2008 of 18 July 2008 .  Declares official control of 
Fusarium oxysporum as a quarantine pest causing Panama FOC disease, tropical race 
No. 4 of musaceas;  
 
• resolution DAL-041-ADM-2008.  Establishing the manual of procedures for the 
operation of field stations for detecting p esticide residues in fresh fruit and plants;  
 
• resolution DAL-047-ADM-2008 of 18 July 2 008.  Adopting regulations defining 
phytosanitary measures and guidelines for th e export, import and release of biological 
control agents and other beneficial orga nisms in Panama's national territory, in 
accordance with the IPPC's ISPM No. 13;  
 
• resolution relating to the list of regulat ed pests, according to ISPM No. 19 IPPC.  
 19. In Nicaragua, support was given to the MAGFOR authorities for revision of the phytosanitary 
requirements for products on lists A and B in connect ion with the negotiations on the establishment of 
the Central American Customs Union. 
IV. TRANSPARENCY OF INFORMATION 
20. Distribution of the monthly Regional Epidemiological Bulletin, which contains information 
on the incidence of animal diseases in OIRSA member countries, has continued in order to promote 
transparency in epidemiological  information and surveillance. 
V. SUPPORT FOR UNDERTAKING RISK ANALYSIS 
21. In Panama, support was given to the national aut horities for the preparation of technical files 
for risk analysis for the following quarantine pests:  Frankliniella occidentalis and Contarinia 
maculipennis . 
VI. STRENGTHENING OF NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN ORDER TO FACILITATE 
TRADE 
22. At the request of the national authorities, a good agricultural practice course was given in 
Panama for 15 officials from the Sanitary and Ph ytosanitary Inspectorate of the Panamanian Food 
Safety Authority (AUPSA), of the Ministry of Ag ricultural Development (MIDA) and the Department 
of Food Safety (DEPA). 
VII. STRATEGIC ALLIANCES FOR PROMOTING HEALTH AND TRADE 
23. A cooperation agreement was signed between the Latin American Poultry Breeders' 
Association (ALA) and the OIRSA with a view to having an effective impact on the preparation of 
international health standards;  promoting harm onization of regional sta ndards in accordance with  G/SPS/GEN/883 
 Page 5 
 
 
  international guidelines from the competent organi zations;  and contributing towards developing 
prevention, control and eradication programmes for poultry diseases. 
24. A cooperation agreement was signed between the El Salvador Exporters ' Corporation and the 
OIRSA in support of implementation of the "Assistance programme for small and medium-sized 
enterprises in Central America in relation to technical requi rements for access to DR-CAFTA"  
(AgroCAFTA).  Under this agreem ent, it is hoped to strengthen nati onal and regional coordination of 
cooperation projects and/or programmes so as to op timize results and the positive impact for small 
and medium-sized enterprises in the agri-business se ctor in the Central American region by meeting 
the technical requirements for market access resu lting from the DR-CAFTA integration agreement. 
25. A cooperation agreement is being signed be tween the Federation of Chambers and 
Associations of Exporters of Central America and Panama (FECAEXCA) and the OIRSA in order to 
coordinate cooperation efforts aimed at improvi ng access for the region's agricultural export offer by 
developing action to permit compliance with the sanita ry and phytosanitary regulations of the target 
markets. 
26. The OIRSA has become a cooperating entity for implementation of Phase IV of the Al-Invest 
initiative for the region, which is a European progra mme that aims to improve the level of social 
cohesion in Latin America by strengthening sma ll and medium-sized enterprises in the region. 
VIII.  STRENGTHENING OF INTER-INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS WITH OTHER 
INTERNATIONAL BODIES 
27. In El Salvador, a workshop was held to revise the TCP implementation strategy:  
"Strengthening of the BSE prevention mechanism a nd adoption of good practice in animal feeding":  
this project will be carried out by the FAO, OIRSA and the national authorities. 
 
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