WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/GEN/1094 
22 June 2011  
 
(11-3080) 
Committee on Sanitary and 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 51
st Meeting of the Committee  
on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, 
30 June and 1 July 2011 
 
 
 The following communication, received on 21 June 2011, is being circulated at the request of 
OIRSA. 
 
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1. Specific support for agricultural production chains 
1. In coordination with national sanitary and phytosanitary aut horities 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 the past three months. 
Phytosanitary programme in support of the citrus fruit production chain 
 
2. With technical support from the Government of Chinese Taipei and its technical bodies, 
OIRSA assisted the authorities of Panama and H onduras in the use of Huanglongbing (HLB) control 
technologies, including endotherapy using antibiotics a nd vector insect control.  As a supplement to 
this support, training workshops were held in both cases. 
3. In Honduras, a regional workshop was held to pr ovide training in the control of HLB and its 
vector insect, with the participation of representa tives of OIRSA's nine member countries and with 
support from, and in coordination with, the Br azilian Agricultural Re search Corporation 
(EMBRAPA), the National Agricultural Health Serv ice of Honduras (SENASA) and the United States 
Department of Agriculture (USDA).  EMBRAPA phyt opathologist Dr Eduardo Girardi was the expert 
and facilitator of the workshop, wh ich was attended by 70 participants. 
4. In Nicaragua, technical and financial support is  ongoing for the programme to maintain the 
northern part of Lake Xolotlán as an ar ea free of the Mediterranean fruit fly ( Ceratitis capitata ). 
5. OIRSA and the IDB Mesoamerica Fruit-Growing Project (PROMEFRUT) are running 
workshops in each country of the OIRSA region for citrus nursery workers in order to promote active 
participation in the nursery certification progra mme and in the implementation of the regional 
standards on this subject proposed by OIRSA.  This  contributes to preventing the spread of pests and 
diseases through the movement of plant material. G/SPS/GEN/1094 
Page 2  
 
  6. The phytosanitary authorities of Panama we re given support in reviewing the following 
standards: 
(a) The "Regulations on Organic Agriculture for Panama"; 
(b) the "New List of Synthetic Chemical Pestic ides Prohibited and Restricted for Sale in 
Panama". 
7. In the interests of sound HLB control, OIRSA continues to promote the strategy for early 
detection of diseases and the delimitation of infect ed areas in backyards and smallholdings that 
endanger commercial areas.  Once the areas have b een located, depending on  geographical location, 
the presence of natural barriers and the agroecological situation and taking account of wind predominance and direction, a peripheral "buffer z one" is established in order to protect commercial 
citrus growing areas.  All the necessary phytosanita ry measures are applied in these areas, including:  
elimination of trees infected by host plants such as Murraya paniculata ;  elimination of the vector 
insect;  fruit tree replacement programmes. 
Phytosanitary programme in suppor t of the vegetable production chain 
 
8. Pursuant to Resolution No. 10, " Tuta absoluta  Survey", adopted by the 57th Ordinary Meeting 
of the International Regional Committee for Plant a nd Animal Health (CIRSA), OIRSA, in addition to 
developing a uniform detection procedure, acquired and made available to some countries traps and 
pheromones specific to this pest, in order to faci litate the detection process.  Virtual technical 
meetings have also been held with South Americ an specialists on the pest, to exchange knowledge 
and experiences.  A protocol on action to be taken in  the event of the detection of tomato leafminer 
(Tuta absoluta ) is also available. 
9. OIRSA provided support in the form of emer gency funding to Panama in order for the 
authorities to stem an outbreak of tomato leafminer ( Tuta absoluta ) in the uplands of Chiriquí 
Province, Panama. 
10. OIRSA continues to support implementati on of the programme to eliminate the 
South American cucurbit fruit fly, Anastrepha grandis , in Darién Province, Panama. 
11. In Honduras, the Regional Course for the Phyto sanitary Management of Vegetables was held 
for heads of phytosanitary surveillance progra mmes in the organization's member countries. 
Swine health programmes 
 
12. In the context of the PREFIP III Project, wh ich OIRSA is implementing with support from 
the Government of Chinese Taipei, Nicaragua a nd Honduras have received support for their swine 
health programmes with a view to their self-declar ation as countries free from classical swine fever.  
Thanks to this joint effort, Nicaragua made su ch a self-declaration in May 2011, and Honduras in 
June 2011. 
13. In El Salvador, during the Tenth Central Am erican and Caribbean Congress on Pig Farming, 
2011, OIRSA gave the presentation "Classical Swine Fever in Central America, Belize, Panama and 
Dominican Republic:  Status and Outlook". 
14. At the Second Biennial Meeting of the Con tinental Plan on Classical Swine Fever in 
Latin America and the Caribbean and the Congress of  the Ibero-American Pig Farming Organization 
(Portugal), OIRSA presented a detailed report on the declaration of freedom from classical swine fever in countries throughout the continental region of the OIRSA membership. G/SPS/GEN/1094 
Page 3 
 
 
  Bovine health programme 
 
15. In order to build up veterinary diagnostic cap acity in respect of bovine brucellosis, OIRSA 
tested and evaluated the "indirect and compe titive ELISA" technique, and supplied equipment, 
materials and laboratory reagents to those countries in the region that face the greatest constraints. 
16. OIRSA supported the design of studies to dete rmine the prevalence of tuberculosis and 
brucellosis.  Such studies have already been c onducted in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and 
Nicaragua. 
Poultry health programme 
 
17. In Honduras, a regional simulation was undertaken  for the control and eradication of avian 
diseases. 
18. In the Dominican Republic, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and 
Panama, campaigns for the prevention of avian diseases were conducted in 13 rural communities. 
2. Training, technical assistance and dissemination activities relating to agricultural health 
and trade 
19. In Honduras, in coordination with the Food Sa fety Division of the National Agricultural 
Health Service (SENASA) and with support from th e National Association of Aquaculture Producers 
of Honduras (ANDAH), training workshops were held on the health and safety of fisheries products 
(European Union requirements) and good aquacult ure practice (farmed shrimp and Tilapia). 
20. In El Salvador, under the AgroCAFTA Progra mme implemented in the Central American 
region and in coordination with the El Salv ador Exporters' Corporation (COEXPORT), the 
Central American and Caribbean Federati on of Chambers and Associations of 
Exporters (FECAEXCA), the Food and Drug Ad ministration (FDA) and the Inter-American 
Development Bank (IBD) through the Multilateral I nvestment Fund (IDB/MIF), a regional refresher 
course was held for agro-industry consultants on qu ality, safety and security in the agro-export chain 
(from farmgate to consumer), sanitary and phytosan itary requirements, labelling, customs regulations 
and the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. 
21. In Nicaragua, the Comprehensive Programme  for Improvement of Milk Production and 
Quality (PROCAL) is being implemented in coordina tion with the Directorate General of Agricultural 
Protection and Health (DGPSA)/Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Forestry (MAGFOR), the National Agrarian University of Managua and the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, and 
milk producers cooperatives and with support from th e National Agricultural Health Centre (CENSA) 
of Cuba. 
22. In Guatemala, in coordination with the Food Safety Directorate of the Ministry of 
Agriculture, Livestock and Food, a pre-audit was conducted on the health and safety of fisheries 
products (farmed shrimp and tuna), in acco rdance with European Union requirements. 
23. In Guatemala, in coordination with the Re gional Technical Group on Agriculture, a workshop 
for ongoing training in agricultural health was conducted. 
24. In El Salvador, a regional training course w as held on implementation of the geographic 
information system, focusing on epidemiological su rveillance in animal health.  The course was 
aimed at public officials, representatives of the private sector and academics. G/SPS/GEN/1094 
Page 4  
 
  25. OIRSA took part in the 4
th Meeting of Caribbean Plant Health Directors (Port of Spain, 
Trinidad and Tobago), at which it reported on regi onal experience in controlling the South American 
cucurbit fruit fly ( Anastrepha grandis ) and the tomato leafminer ( Tuta absoluta ). 
26. We have started putting out a special electronic bulletin on phytosanitary aspects of 
production and trade in the rice food chain (NOTIARRO Z).  It can be viewed (in Spanish) at the 
following web address:  http://www.oirsa.org/aplicaciones/subidoarchivos/BibliotecaVirtual 
/NOTIARROZ1tungro.pdf  
27. In El Salvador, at the 56th Ordinary Meeting of the CIRSA Technical Committee, whose 
membership comprises directors of animal hea lth, plant health, food safety and agricultural 
quarantine, OIRSA gave a presentation on the Standa rds and Trade Development Facility (STDF) in 
which it drew attention to the facility's importance to the provision of support to national capacity 
building for sanitary and phytosanitary measures.  The STDF Secretariat lent support for OIRSA's 
presentation. 
3. Strengthening of national institutions in order to facilitate trade 
28. STDF Project 284, "Strengthening the National SPS Committee in Honduras" continues to be 
implemented with the support of the Standard s and Trade Development Facility (STDF).  
With project support, a policy on sanitary and phy tosanitary measures has been devised for Honduras 
and a study has been completed on the "Evaluation of the Economic Impact of the Application of 
Sanitary Measures on Trade in Strategic Products of Animal Origin". 
29. In Nicaragua, in conjunction with the DGPSA /MAGFOR authorities, coordination meetings 
have been held in order to define a strategy allo wing the country to achieve the status of controlled 
risk for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).  The legislation on BSE prevention and control 
was reviewed in this context. 
4. Support for regional trade facilitation 
30. With a view to facilitating trade in dairy products between El Sa lvador and Nicaragua, 
OIRSA continues to facilitate the exchange of offi cial information on dairy plant inspection under the 
sanitary protocol to facilitate bilate ral trade between the two countries. 
5. Support for the harmonization and equivalence process 
31. In the context of the cooperation agreem ent on food safety signed with the Foreign 
Agricultural Service (FAS) and the Food Safety an d Inspection Service (FSIS), both of which are 
agencies of the United States Department of Agricu lture (USDA), and with the participation of an 
expert from the International Commission of Micr obiological Specifications for Foods (ICMSF), a 
meeting was held, in which OIRSA took part, to review Central American Customs Union 
regulations (RTCA) on the sanitary registration of foods and microbiological criteria for food safety 
and their equivalence with the regulatio ns of the United States of America. 
32. OIRSA and the Regional Technical Committee fo r Avian Health are in the process of 
reviewing and updating the avian guidelines for fac ilitation of international and regional trade, and 
new guidelines have been drawn up for excreta cont rol and management and for biosafety in poultry 
holdings. G/SPS/GEN/1094 
Page 5 
 
 
  6. Strategic alliances for the promotion of health and trade 
33. In the context of the programme for cooperati on with the Chilean Agricultural and Livestock 
Service, support was given to the preparation of a technical cooperation project on food safety with 
the Food Safety Division (DIA)/SENASA/Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG) of Honduras.  
 
 In order to comment on this report or obtain additional information on plant health activities, 
please contact:  Edwin Aragón, e-mail:  earagon@oirsa.org.   For more information on food safety, please contact:  Óscar García, e-mail:  
ogarcia@oirsa.org. 
  For any queries on animal health activities, please contact:  Abelardo de Gracia, e-mail:  
adegracia@oirsapanama.org.pa.  
 We invite you to visit our website:  http://www.oirsa.org/  
 
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