. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/580 
27 June 2005 
 
 (05-2736) 
Committee on Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
 
 
 
REPORT ON ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE INTERNATIONAL 
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR PLANT AND ANIMAL 
HEALTH (OIRSA) IN RELA TION TO THE AGREEMENT 
ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
 
  The following communication, received on 23 June 2005, is being circulated at the request of 
OIRSA.  
_______________ 
 
 
Training and dissemination in the area  of agricultural health and trade 
 
1. In Costa Rica, a presentation entitled "SPS Measu res and International Trade" was given at 
the meeting of the Mesoamerican Competitiveness  Council (CMC).  The CMC is composed of 
presidential delegates and officials from multilatera l and international agencies such as the IDB, 
ECLAC, SIECA and OIRSA.  Its aim is to promot e the competitiveness of the Mesoamerican region 
(which stretches from Puebla, Mexico, to Panama). 
2. In El Salvador, a presentation entitled "the Importance of Applying the Good Apicultural 
Practices Manual in the Production of  Natural Honey" was given within the framework of the second 
Central American Congress on Apicultural Integr ation and Modernization.  A presentation entitled 
"the Importance of Good Agricultural and Manufact uring Practices for the Salvadoran Agro-Export 
Sector" was also given. 
3. Mexico hosted the 14
th Inter-American Meeting at Ministerial Level on Health and 
Agriculture (RIMSA), which was attended by pub lic health and agriculture officials from the 
American hemisphere.  The Executive Director act ed as a panel member in the discussion of 
"Intercountry Cooperation in the Internationa l Food Trade – Implications for Health and 
Development". 
4. In El Salvador, OIRSA, in conjunction with  the United States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA-APHIS) and the University of Yucatán, Me xico, organized a regional course on veterinary 
epidemiology and risk analysis. 
Support for the prevention, control a nd eradication of pests and diseases 
 
5. In Panama, a pilot scheme covering 400 km ² in Parita and its surrounding area has been 
implemented, with the assistance of the Ministry of  Agricultural Development (MIDA), as a first step 
in the project to establish an area free of the Mediterranean fruit fly in the Azuero region. G/SPS/GEN/580 
Page 2  
 
 Support for the dissemination of international standards 
6. Publication of the OIRSA Regional Standa rd on Plant Health (NRSV) - "Guidelines for 
Drafting and Disclosing Lists of Regulated Pests" (2005).  
Strengthening national sanitary institutions to facilitate trade 
 
7. In OIRSA member countries, seminars a nd workshops have been held on sanitary and 
phytosanitary capacity building in na tional services, with a view to drafting a strategic plan for such 
services. 
8. Furthermore, within the framework of th e Central American Customs Union negotiating 
process, technical assistance has been given to the Sub-Group on Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
Measures and the Records Group. 
Strengthening OIRSA's relations with other international agencies 
 
9. Within the framework of the 73
rd General Session of the OIE, the Director of the OIE invited 
the Executive Director of OIRSA to give a presenta tion on OIRSA's role in the region's agricultural 
health.  A new technical agreement was also signe d, broadening the scope of  the cooperation between 
the organizations. 
10. Cooperative ties with the Spanish Government ha ve also been reinforced, most notably with 
the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisher ies (MAPA) and the Spanish Food Safety Agency 
(AESA).  This endeavour may result in fresh support fo r countries in the region in the field of plant 
health (prevention, control and eradication of p ests, with emphasis on the Mediterranean fruit fly and 
other fruit flies, and plant traceability);  animal  health (project on cl assical swine fever and 
traceability in products of animal origin);  and food safety (a course on food safety will take place in 
Guatemala in November 2005 and OIRSA will recei ve technical assistance in this field). 
11. An agreement has been signed between OIRSA and the PAHO/WHO defining the work 
programme for 2005 (Masters' Degree  for Managers of Food Safety Programmes) and for 2006-2007. 
__________