WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/1007 
15 March 2010 
 (10-1349) 
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 WTO AGREEMENT ON THE APPLICATION  
OF SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
 
 
Report to the 47
th Meeting of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  
17 and 18 March 2010  
 
 
 The following communication, received on 12 Ma rch 2010, 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 authorities 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 th e past three months.  As from this year, OIRSA 
will develop new phytosanitary programmes in suppor t of agricultural production chains, which will 
include:  Musaceae, Palmaceae, Vegetables (tom atoes, chili peppers, potatoes and onions), 
Pineapples, Basic Grains (rice) and Citrus Fruits. 
Belize
 
2. Within the framework of the phytosanitary prog ramme in support of the citrus and other fruit 
production chain, the following activities were implemented: 
(a) Technical support in the development of the Tri-national Programme (United States 
of America, Mexico and Belize) to Combat Huanglongbing (HLB); 
(b) initiation of the National Huanglongbing Control Plan in Belize, by: 
• Establishing a working group; 
• legislation declaring the pest to be regulated; 
• prohibiting the movement of nursery plants; 
• continuous monitoring; 
• developing diagnostic capability; G/SPS/GEN/1007 
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  • training personnel; 
• provision of real-time PCR equipment; 
(c) implementation of an education progra mme for technicians and producers and 
information to the general public; 
(d) training producers and technicians to recognize the disease;  and 
(e) international technical assistance:  cons ultants from the USA, Brazil and France. 
3. Within the framework of the regional support programme for the poultry production chain the 
following action was taken by OIRSA in the last quarter: 
(a) Poultry standards harmonized in the Regi onal Commission for Poultry Health were 
officially adapted for Belize, bringing the country into line with Panama, Costa Rica, 
El Salvador and Guatemala.  This is exp ected to help facilitate the regional poultry 
trade; 
(b) technical support for the Belizean veterinary services, including a training seminar on 
vaccination against Newcastle disease;  and 
(c) technical and logistical support during the launch and development of the vaccination 
campaign against Newcastle disease in Be lize.  The Programme donated the vaccines 
utilized in the campaign and provided tr aining in poultry v accination techniques. 
Honduras
 
4. Within the framework of the programme in support of the swine production chain, Honduras 
finalized the control phase for Classical Swine Fe ver (CSF), and initiated the eradication phase from 
30 September 2009.  The country is thus expect ed to declare itself free from this disease by 
December 2010. 
Nicaragua  
5. Under the phytosanitary programme in support of  the citrus and other fruit production chain, 
the following action was taken by OIRSA: 
(a) Support for the detection of HLB and its insect vector; 
(b) identification of greenhouses for the reproduc tion of material from the United States 
of America, 
(c) training on quarantine fruit pests;  and 
(d) technical assistance in support of maintain ing the area north of Lake Xolotlán free 
from fruit flies. 
6. Within the framework of the programme in  support of the swine production chain, a 
Ministerial Decree was published in which the country was officially declared to be in the eradication 
phase of CSF.  The aim is to declare Nicaragua free from CSF by the end of 2010.  G/SPS/GEN/1007 
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  El Salvador  
7. Under the phytosanitary programme in support of  the citrus and other fruit production chain, 
the following action was taken: 
(a) Support for the detection of HLB and its insect vector; 
(b) identification of greenhouses for the reproduc tion of material from the United States 
of America; 
(c) training on quarantine fruit pests;  and 
(d) participation in the fifth International Bu siness Forum on Tropical Fruits, with a talk 
on:  Phytosanitary threats for regional fruit production. 
8. Within the framework of the programme in s upport of the poultry production chain, OIRSA is 
implementing a National Programme on Backyard Poultry, focusing on the following activities: 
(a) In conjunction with the authorities of the National School of Agriculture (ENA), the 
National Centre for Agriculture and Forest ry Technology and the General Directorate 
for Plant and Animal Health (DGSVA), a national plan was drawn up, which will be 
of benefit to 20 rural communities living in  extreme poverty.  Schemes have already 
been initiated in two communities in the depa rtments of La Libertad and Sonsonate. 
9. Within the framework of the programme in support of the swine production chain, since 
April 2009, when the national authorities declared the country free from CSF, steps have been taken 
to obtain official regional and intern ational recognition of this status. 
Costa Rica  
10. Within the framework of the phytosanitary prog ramme in support of the citrus and other fruit 
production chain, the following action was taken in Costa Rica: 
(a) Support for the detection of HLB and its insect vector; 
(b) identification of greenhouses for the reproduc tion of material from the United States 
of America; 
(c) technical support to maintain the pest-free area in the Peninsula of Nicoya;  and 
(d) training on HLB for private companies. 
Panama  
11. The following activities were implemented under the phytosanitary programme in support of 
the fruit production chain: 
(a) Support for the detection of HLB and its insect vector; 
(b) training on quarantine fruit pests; 
(c) consultations on:  contingency plans and handbooks on phytosanitary technical 
assistance for papaya; G/SPS/GEN/1007 
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  (d) technical support in the Azuero region fo r exports free from the Mediterranean fruit 
fly; 
(e) technical support for the management of Thrips palmi ; 
(f) phytosanitary support for citrus fruits, papaya and mango;  and 
(g) support for the Anastrepha grandis  eradication programme in the Darién zone and the 
Chapo, west of the Panama Canal.  As a result of coordinated efforts by the Ministry 
of Agricultural Development (MIDA) of Pa nama through the National Directorate for 
Plant Health, the University of Panama and OIRSA, phytosanitary restrictions on exports of cucurbits to the US mark et have been successfully lifted. 
12. Within the framework of the sanitary progra mme in support of the aquaculture production 
chain, and as a result of the meeting between OIRS A's Ad Hoc Group on Aquaculture Health and the 
Organization for the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector of the Central American Isthmus (OSPESCA), the Handbook on Good Shrimp Farm Mana gement Practices was developed. 
Guatemala
 
13. Through the programme in support of the swine production chain, epidemiologic surveillance 
measures continue to be supported in the wake of  the national authorities declaring the country free 
from classical swine fever in 2009. 
Dominican Republic  
14. Under the programme in support of the swin e production chain, FAO and OIRSA held the 
fourth Continental Plan meeting for the eradication of classical swine fever.  During this event, the 
Central American countries and the Dominican Repub lic set 2012 as the target date for eradicating 
CSF. 
15. In the Dominican Republic, backyard pigs conti nue to be systematically vaccinated in order 
to finalize the CSF monitoring phase. 
2. Training, technical assistance and disseminatio n activities relating to agricultural health 
and trade 
16. Technical posters about HLB and the plants a nd vectors that amplify the disease, such as 
lemon grass, myrtle or jasmine ( Murraya paniculata ), have been designed and distributed. 
17. The first Latin American Pig Farming Congress was organized jointly by the FAO, the OIE 
and OIRSA, in conjunction with the Dominican Federation of Pig Farmers (FEDOPORC) and the 
Latin American Organization of Pig Farmers (OIPO RC).  At that event, the progress achieved in the 
classical swine fever programme was analysed, as were the strengths and weaknesses of national 
programmes, and a course of action was adopted to improve implementation of the Continental Plan 
so as to achieve the 2020 objectives.  In addition, joint strategies were defi ned in order to improve 
competiveness within the pork industry. 
18. In Nicaragua, a regional congress on traceability and good agricultural practice was organized 
in cooperation with the Producers and Exporters A ssociation of Nicaragua (APEN).  There were 
261 participants from the livestock, agricultura l and bee-keeping sectors at this event.  G/SPS/GEN/1007 
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  19. A training course on health and safety for apicultu re was held in Nicaragua for the benefit of 
technicians from the official sector, producers, academics and honey exporters, whose principal market is the European Union. 
20. In Panama, the National Animal Health Directorate of the Ministry of Agricultural 
Development (MIDA) received support for the organi zation of the seminar-workshop on good animal 
husbandry and hazard analysis and critical control points. 
21. In Maryland, USA, with the cooperation of th e United States Department of Agriculture - 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) and OIRSA, laboratory technicians from the Ministries/Secretariats of Agriculture and Liv estock of OIRSA member countries were trained to 
carry out the PCR technique for Huanglongbing detection in citrus fruits. 
22. Technical information (more than 600MB) on th e subject of Huanglongbing in citrus fruits 
has been distributed to the citrus fruit sector by the authorities as a result of the technical assistance 
received from USDA/APHIS of Florida, Fundecitrus of Brazil and INRA of France. 
23. In Panama, a workshop on biosecurity in semi- industrial and backyard farming was held 
under the joint FAO-OIRSA Project on "Emergency Assistance for the Surveillance of Influenza A 
Subtype H1N1 Virus in Swine Populations in Central America and Neighbouring Countries". 
3. Support for the regional harmonization process 
24. A draft protocol to facilitate bilateral trade in dairy products was prepared at the request of the 
health authorities in Nicaragua and El Salvador. 
4. Support for risk analysis 
25. A Pest Risk Analysis of the weed Polygonum lapathifolium was prepared at the request of the 
authorities of Nicaragua's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAGFOR). 
5. Strengthening of national institutions in order to facilitate trade 
26. In Honduras and the Dominican Republic, conti nuing support was provided for the national 
committees on sanitary and phytosanitary measur es.  A project on "Strengthening the Honduran 
National Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures" was submitted for approval by the 
Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF). 
27. In cooperation with OSPESCA, an evaluation of  Central American laboratories that analyse 
waste from fishery products was carried out in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. 
28. OIRSA supported the Belizean Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in developing a project 
on the harmonization of health standards for exports  of live animals and meat from Belize to Mexico, 
which is to be presented by the authorities to th e cooperation arm of the European Union and is 
expected to receive a US$1.7 million investment fro m the United States.  The project will be used to 
establish equivalencies between the official veterina ry services, to determine the health requirements 
applicable to trade between the countries, and to establish a system for identifying Belizean farms and 
cattle. G/SPS/GEN/1007 
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  6. Strategic alliances for the promotion of health and trade 
29. Organization of the OIRSA-AECID-IDB Regional Project on new technologies for the 
phytosanitary management of citrus fruits (FRU TIC) has commenced, with the aim of modernizing 
the regional phytosanitary surveillance of citrus fruit s through the development and installation of the 
digital information technology infrastructure necess ary to manage data from citrus fruit farms. 
30. Within the framework of the IDB Mesoamerican Fruit-Growing Project (PROMEFRUT), a 
regional workshop for PROMEFRUT Platform C on health, quality and safety was held in El Salvador.  This component of the project will be coordinated by OIRSA. 
 
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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