WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/837 
28 March 2008 
 
 (08-1388) 
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 AGREEMENT ON THE APPLICATION 
OF SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
 
Report to the 41
st Meeting of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  
2 and 3 April 2008  
   The following communication, received on 27 Marc h 2008, is being circulated at the request 
of OIRSA. 
 
1. Specific support for production chains for agricultural products 
1. As reported at the last meeting of this Co mmittee held in October 2007, the International 
Regional Committee for Plant and Animal Health (CIR SA), made up of the ministers and secretaries 
of agriculture and livestock of the nine OIRSA member countries, approved a new strategy for 
operationalizing support for agri-food chains through seven sanitary and phytosanitary programmes.  
Today, we are reporting on progress in the implem entation of those programmes in the different 
member countries. 
Honduras
 
2. The following action was taken in support of the fisheries and aquaculture chain: 
• The situation diagnosis of the chain was completed; 
 
• a workshop was held to draw up a health support programme for the fisheries and 
aquaculture chain and for the developmen t of agri-food chains.  This workshop 
produced a draft health programme and identified the different value chains. 
 3. A health programme was launched in support of the bovine chain with a focus on prevention, 
control and eradication of bovine brucellosis a nd tuberculosis.  Seven hundred farms are soon 
expected to be declared free from those diseases. 
El Salvador
 
 4. The following action was taken in support of the bovine chain: 
• A proposal was drafted for a national health  programme in support of the chain, and 
was submitted to the authorities; 
 
• in cooperation with the national author ities, support was provided to producers 
(breeders and processors) from Ciudad Dolo res, Cabañas, in identifying better 
practices in the area of hygienic milking and cheese processing; G/SPS/GEN/837 
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• coordination and support was provided for the visit by producers from Ciudad 
Dolores to rural plants in Turrialba, Costa Rica; 
 
• work was done on a model rural plant to be proposed to the national authorities, and 
subsequently at the regional level. 
 
5. Continued efforts were made on behalf of the pi g production chain in the form of support for 
the activities of the Programme for the Prevention, Control and Eradication of Classical Swine Fever, 
and the disease is currently in the process of being eradicated.  The outbreak reported in February in 
the department of San Miguel is under control. 
6. In support of the fisheries and aquaculture production chain, assistance was provided to the 
national authorities both for the importation of high genetic and health material and for seeding and 
restocking of fry. 
Nicaragua
 
 7. OIRSA supported the implementation of the Food Production Programme, a presidential 
programme geared towards the promotion of pr oduction, food security, and agricultural health. 
8. OIRSA also supported the national authorities in implementing an animal traceability 
programme for the bovine production chain. 
Panama
 
 9. In support of the citrus and other fruit production chain, the corresponding national 
commission was officially created and is now in operation.  Support was also provided for the 
declaration of the Azuero region as a Medfly fr ee area, and the programme for the control and 
eradication of Thrips palmi  is still under way. 
Dominican Republic
 
 
10. In support of the oriental and other vegetable production chain, technical assistance and 
training was provided in good agriculture practi ces (GAP), good manufacturing practices (GMP) and 
traceability, and assistance was provided in devel oping the phytosanitary legal and regulatory 
framework and preparing for the identification of improvements with a view to meeting the 
phytosanitary requirements for exportation to Europe. 
2. Training, technical assistance and disseminati on activities in the areas of agricultural 
health and trade 
11. Avian influenza prevention activities continue to  include the coordinated organization, with 
the United States Department of Agriculture, of seminar s on biosecurity in live bird markets, with the 
participation of the Ministries of Agriculture, H ealth and Labour, as well as municipal authorities, 
poultry producers, live bird market traders and NGOs.  March of this year saw the organization of a 
workshop follow-up meeting, attended by leaders fr om each country (Public Health, Agriculture and 
Livestock, and Municipalities). 
12. In the Dominican Republic, OIRSA organized a course on good agricultural practices in the 
production of plants in a cont rolled environment (greenhouses).  G/SPS/GEN/837 
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  13. OIRSA participated in the Scientific Committee of the Association of Latin American Poultry 
Farmers and in the Seventh Meeting of the In ter-American Committee on Avian Health.  Following 
these meetings, the delegates asked OIRSA to join  the Advisory Sub-Committee on Food Safety. 
14. In Panama, Honduras and Guatemala, OIRSA pr ovided the competent national authorities 
with technical assistance in preparing the inspectio n visits of the European Union's OVA/SANCO to 
fisheries and aquaculture plants.   
15. OIRSA drafted a technical report on the potential risks of introduction of Raoiella indica  
Hirst in the OIRSA region where it has not yet been reported. 
3. Support for the prevention, control a nd eradication of pests and diseases 
16. In the Dominican Republic, OIRSA is assisting the national authorities with the recent 
outbreak of mildly pathogenic avian influen za (MPAI) by developing a contingency plan and 
providing the necessary advice. 
4. Strategic alliances for the benefit of health and trade 
17. A cooperation agreement was concluded between the Central American Agricultural Council 
(CAC) and OIRSA with a view to taking action in  support of the Central American Agricultural 
Policy (PACA) in the field of agricultural health and food safety.  This led to the drafting of a work 
plan for 2008 to be implemented by the CAC Secr etariat, OIRSA, IICA, and the Secretariat for 
Central American Economic Integration (SIECA). 
18. A cooperation agreement was c oncluded between the Organization for the Fisheries and 
Aquaculture Sector of the Central American Is thmus (OSPESCA) and OIRSA for the administration 
of resources for the benefit of that sector. 
5. Transparency of animal health information 
19. The monthly Regional Epidemiological Bulletin c ontinued to be distributed, with information 
on the incidence of animal diseases in the coun tries of the OIRSA region, in order to support 
transparency in epidemiological  information and surveillance. 
6. Strengthening of national institutions in order to facilitate trade 
20. In Panama, support was provided for the devel opment of manuals on quarantine procedures:  
"Procedures for Sea Entry Points", "Procedures for Airport Entry Points", and "Procedures for Land 
Entry Points". 
21. OIRSA supported the authorities of Guatemala in  developing the "Manual for the Inspection 
of Bulk Grains and Flours in Ships". 
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