WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/615 
6 January 2006 
 (06-0042) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
  
 
MEASURES IMPLEMENTED IN THE FIELD 
OF VETERINARY MEDICINE 
 
Communication from Cuba
 
 
 
 The following communication, received on 22 December 2005, is being circulated at the 
request of the delegation of Cuba. 
 
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A. INTRODUCTION 
1. Since 1996, Cuba has been working on the ad option of sanitary measures to prevent the 
introduction and subsequent spread of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or "Mad Cow 
Disease" in the national territory. 
2. An active and passive BSE surveillance progra mme was introduced at national level in 2002 
in order to determine whether the disease is present in the country and, if detected, to monitor its 
development and adopt control and eradication meas ures.  The Directive on collection and submission 
of samples for BSE testing (histopathological  diagnosis) was drawn up and put into effect 
subsequently. 
3. New recommendations by the World Organiza tion for Animal Health (OIE) Ad Hoc Group 
were later evaluated for BSE surveillance purposes a nd the existing Directive,  following review, was 
updated and replaced by the "Procedure for collection and submission of samples and histopathological and immunohistoc hemical diagnosis of BSE", whic h was approved and instituted by 
Resolution No. 9/005 of 25 August 2005. 
4. To date, all the brain samples subjected to histopathological and immunohistochemical 
analysis have tested negative.  We can therefor e affirm that the disease is not present in Cuba. 
B. MEASURES
 IMPLEMENTED  SINCE  1996 
• Implementation of Resolution No. 6 of 19 August 1986 establishing strict regulations 
with regard to imports and the activati on of the BSE surveillance system, and a 
nationwide ban on feeding ruminants with ru minant blood, meat, bone or offal meal 
and on using such meal as an agricultural fertilizer. 
 
• Updating of Resolution No. 6/96 with the entry into effect of Resolution No. 5/001 of 
1 March 2001. 
 G/SPS/GEN/615 
Page 2  
 
  • Issuance of Instruction No. 1/001 of 6 February 2001 prohibiting the entry into 
national territory of any animal feedstuffs containing meat and bone meal or meat and 
bone by-products (including animal fat). 
 
• Implementation of Resolution No. 9/002 of 12 June 2002. 
 
• Implementation at national level of the Di rective on collection and submission of 
samples for BSE testing (histopathological diagnosis). 
 
• Resolution No. 1/004 of 12 January 2004, currently in force, updated on the basis of 
new published scientific findings on BSE (G/SPS/N/CUB/8 and G/SPS/N/CUB/9). 
 
• Preparation of veterinary health requirements for imports, taking into account the 
country's BSE risk level.  
 
• An ongoing national training programme on the disease is designed to ensure that all 
the country's veterinary surgeons and technicians are kept up-to-date.  The programme, which receives guidance from the Pan-American Foot and Mouth Disease Centre (PANAFTOSA), includes practical training in immunohistochemical techniques for pathologists working in provi ncial veterinary diagnostic laboratories. 
 
• Implementation of Resolution No. 9/005 of 25 August 2005 approving and instituting 
the "Procedure for collecti on and submission of samples and histopathological and 
immunohistochemical diagnosis  of BSE". 
 C. DESCRIPTION
 OF CONTENT  OF THE  "PROCEDURE  FOR  COLLECTION  AND  
SUBMISSION  OF SAMPLES  AND  HISTOPATHOLOGICAL  AND  
IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL  DIAGNOSIS  OF BSE" 
5. The document (available in Spanish, 17 pages) is divided into six sections: 
 
 - Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. Brief introduction; 
- Identification of four cattle subpopulations for active and passive BSE surveillance 
purposes; 
- General criteria to be observed wh en conducting the histopathological and 
immunohistochemical analysis; 
- Extraction, selection and submission of the brain;  - Processing of the brain for histopatholog ical and immunohistochemical diagnosis; 
- References;  and 
- Annexes. 
 D. DESCRIPTION
 OF CONTENT  OF RESOLUTION  NO.  9/005  OF 25 AUGUST  2005  
(AVAILABLE  IN SPANISH,  3 PAGES) 
6. This Resolution approves and institutes th e "Procedure for collection and submission of 
samples and histopathological and immunohistoche mical diagnosis of BSE".  It provides that 
statistical information on cases subject to active and passive surveillance,  in accordance with 
the parameters established in Appendix 3.8.4 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code, shall be 
sent to the National Directorate of Border Veteri nary Services of the Institute of Veterinary 
Medicine, broken down in terms of the four s ubpopulations of cattle older than 30 months  G/SPS/GEN/615 
 Page 3 
 
 
  duly identified in the procedure.  The Resoluti on designates four Cuban laboratories to carry 
out the histopathological and immunohistochemical  diagnosis of BSE.  Each laboratory will 
be responsible for all the samples for analysis w ithin a particular region.  The Resolution also 
revokes the Directive on collection and s ubmission of samples for BSE testing 
(histopathological diagnosis) issued in 2002. 
 
E. NATIONAL  ENQUIRY  POINT 
 Ministerio de Comercio Exterior 
 Dirección de Organismos Internacionales  Calle Infanta  No 16 esquina 23 
 Municipio Plaza de la Revolución  
 Ciudad de la Habana  República de Cuba   Fax:  (537) 542266  E-mail:  eva.quintana@mincex.cu 
 
 Instituto de Medicina Veterinaria  Dirección Nacional. Calle 12 No. 355 entre 15 y 17, Ciudad Habana 
 Municipio Plaza de la Revolución  República de Cuba   Fax:  (537) 303537 
 E-mail: dnimv@infomed.sld.cu
  
  rbescofet2002@hotmail.com  
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