WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/1033 
28 June 2010 
 (10-3528) 
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 48
th Meeting of the Committee  
on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  
 
28 and 30 June 2010 
 
  The following communication, received on 28 June 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 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 pineapple production chain  
 2. The International Regional Committee for Plant a nd Animal Health (CIRSA), made up of the 
Ministers/Secretaries of Agriculture and Livestock, at its 57
th Ordinary Meeting declared a 
phytosanitary regional emergency for Fusariosis in pineapples ( Fusarium guttiforme ).  OIRSA drew 
up technical recommendations in order to prevent the entry of the disease into the OIRSA region. 
Phytosanitary programme in support of the citrus fruit production chain  
 3. OIRSA coordinated a technical visit to the Fund for Citrus Plant Protection 
(FUNDECITRUS) in Brazil by 51 technical experts from the public and private sectors of the 
nine member countries of OIRSA.  The aim of the visit was to learn of the most recent technological 
advances in Brazil relating to the control of Huanglongbing (HLB). 
4. Panama carried out a survey to detect HLB and its vector on the Caribbean coast of the whole 
of the province of Bocas del Toro as far as the Cost a Rican frontier.  The areas were geo-referenced 
and no sign of HLB was found. G/SPS/GEN/1033 
Page 2  
 
  Phytosanitary programme in support of the vegetable production chain
 
 5. A document entitled "Handbook of Pr ocedures for the Detection of Tuta Absoluta Meyrick  in 
the Cultivation of Tomatoes under Field and Gree nhouse Conditions in the Countries within the 
OIRSA Region" was drafted and submitted for approval to the member countries of OIRSA.  
2. Training, technical assistance and dissemination activities relating to agricultural health 
and trade 
6. In Panama 35 technical experts and producers received training on topics relating to the 
agricultural management of plan t cultivation and health at th e Seminar-Workshop on papaya 
cultivation. 
7. In Panama a Panel of Experts on Fruit Flies:   Taxonomy, Ecology and the Control of Fruit 
Flies of Quarantine Significance (MIDA-OIRSA-AI EA-APHIS) was held.  It was attended by 
25 officials from the member countries of OIRSA, Colo mbia and Peru.  The aims of the Panel were:  
(a) to draw up strategies so as to prevent the entry of  existing fruit flies into other regions of the world 
with the great impact that would have on interna tional trade;  (b) to establish a programme for the 
eradication of the Mediterranean fruit fly;  and (c) to  analyse the most effective methods to combat the 
native flies that affect the economy and trade,  such as the mango, guayaba and papaya fly. 
8. In Honduras OIRSA took an active part in the workshop:  "Participatory Strategic Plan 
2010-2014 of the National Agricultural Health Service (SENASA)". 
9. In Panama a Seminar-Workshop was organized on  Training on the Health and Safety of 
Fishery Products:  EU legislation on the health of  food products with reference to fishery products.  
The event was intended for the benefit of 30 tec hnical experts from fish processing companies and 
officials from the Panamanian Aquatic Resour ces Authority (ARAP), MIDA and MINSA.  The 
Seminar was organized by ARAP, OSPESCA and OIRSA. 
10. In Nicaragua OIRSA participated as organizer, l ecturer and moderator in the Seventh Central 
American and Caribbean Congress on Apicultural Inte gration and Modernization, which was attended 
by 330 producers, exporters, technical experts a nd professionals from 11 Latin American countries. 
11. At the First Pre-Harvest 2010-2011 Theoreti cal and Practical Training Session of the 
Apicultural Chain of El Salvador a talk was gi ven on Good Practices during the Maintenance Season. 
12. In El Salvador support was provided for DIA/DGSVA/MAG in drafting the Regulations for 
Sanitary Inspection of Pork Meat and the NSO St andard "Meat of slaughtered ready-to-eat poultry 
(chicks and hens of the species gallus gallus ), whole or cut in pieces, and the offal thereof.  
Specifications" (public consultation). 
13. In the Dominican Republic technical assistance was given to the Central Veterinary 
Laboratory (LAVECEN) in good laboratory practi ces and the implementation of ISO/IEC 17025:2005 
standard "General Requirements for the Compet ence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories". 
14. The "Handbook on Good Shrimp Farm Management  Practices" was prepared and revised by 
the OIRSA Ad Hoc Group on Aquaculture Health. 
15. The "Manual of Good Apicultural Practices" was updated by the OIRSA Ad Hoc Group on 
Apicultural Health and Safety.  G/SPS/GEN/1033 
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  16. Technical guides were prepared on Animal Welfare and Model Programmes for Disease 
Control and Eradication. 
17. The OIRSA publication "Contingency Plan for an  Outbreak of the Pink Hibiscus Mealy Bug 
(Maconellicoccus hirsutus ) in a country of the OIRSA region" was made available online.  Further 
information on this publication may be found at the site:  
http://www.oirsa.org/portal/Noticia_principal.aspx?id=83 .  It should be noted that the IPPC is 
encouraging the RPPO to become involved in such initiatives. 
18. Continuing Training Models have been prepared  in such areas as epid emiology, information 
systems, risk analysis, aquaculture , cost-benefit, prevention of tran sborder diseases, with a view to 
strengthening the veterinary services of the member countries. 
3. Strengthening of national institutions in order to facilitate trade 
19. The Standards and Trade Development Fac ility (STDF/WTO) approved the project 
"Strengthening the Honduran National Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures", which 
will begin its work in July 2010. 
20. The Honduran National Laboratory for Residue Analysis (LANAR), whose administration 
has been delegated to OIRSA by the express wish  of SENASA, achieved accreditation of the quality 
management system under the INTE-ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard. 
4. Strategic alliances for the promotion of health and trade 
21. Within the framework of the IDB Mesoameri can Fruit-Growing Project (PROMEFRUT) the 
Participatory Regional Workshop for the Formulati on of a Regional Policy for the Development of 
Fruit-Growing was held in Guatemala.  The phytosan itary side of the project will be coordinated by 
OIRSA. 
22. Finalization of the Technical Cooperation Project between FAO and OIRSA on 
"Strengthening of the BSE Prevention Mechanis m and Adoption of Good Practice in Animal 
Feeding" (TCP/RLA/3113).  This produced a "Criti cal Roadmap for the Follow-up to the Conclusions 
of the Project", which was sent to the governments of the beneficiary countries so that they might 
continue with the follow-up activities previously agreed. 
23. A common framework of actions was established between the agencies operating in the 
OIRSA region for the application of sanitary measu res, the strengthening of veterinary services and 
the prevention, control and eradication of zoonotic  diseases that interfere with trade [OIE, FAO, 
USDA-APHIS, OPAHO, GF-Tds, COSALFA, CARIVET]. 
24. In Mexico, the Inter-institutional Meeting of  the Mesoamerican Cooperation Programme 
resulted in the process of revision, for subsequent approval, of the "Integrated support project for the 
institutional capacity of the Central American countri es in health diagnostics:  the response to health 
emergencies and information on Mexican standards and institutions that relate to the application of 
sanitary and phytosanitary measures". 
For further information or comme nts 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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