. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/709 
27 June 2006 
 
 (06-3113) 
Committee on Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
 
 
 
REPORT OF ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE INTERNATIONAL 
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR PLANT AND ANIMAL 
HEALTH (OIRSA) RELATING TO THE AGREEMENT ON 
SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
 
Report to the Thirty-Sixth Meeting of the Committee on Sanitary and  
Phytosanitary Measures of the World Trade Organization,  
27 and 28 June 2006  
 
 
 The following communication, received on 23 June 2006, is being circulated at the request of 
OIRSA.  
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I. TRAINING AND DISSEMINATION IN THE AREA OF AGRICULTURAL HEALTH 
AND TRADE 
1. At the teleconference "Avian influenza, epidem iological surveillance and early detection of 
the disease for the purpose of human prevention in Ce ntral America", the first of five events being 
organized by OIRSA and the Regional Technical  Unit for Technical Assistance (RUTA), OIRSA 
gave a presentation on the topic "Status of Avian Flu in the World". 
2. Support was given to a Workshop to Strengthe n Animal and Plant Health Services and Food 
Safety Systems in the Dominican Republic, as follows: 
(a) Presentation of a preliminary diagnosis of the veterinary, phytosanitary and food 
safety services in the Dominican Republic; 
(b) review, updating and validation of in formation with the authorities; 
(c) presentation of a methodology for developing a strategic plan and its results;  and 
(d) formation of a group to monitor and revi ew the strategic plan, which will be 
presented to the Committee of Ministers of the Region (H. CIRSA). 
II. SUPPORT FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL 
STANDARDS 
3. Support was given to a meeting in El Salvador to review comments on the first draft of the 
"Handbook of Good Practices in the Production and Ma nufacturing of El Salv ador Balsam" submitted 
by the country's private and public sectors and advise rs from the European Union.  It was agreed to G/SPS/GEN/709 
Page 2  
 
  align the new draft with the "WHO Guide:  Good Agricultural and Collection Practices on Medicinal 
Plants", as advised by the European experts. 
4. A first draft of "A Handbook of Good Dairy Fa rming Practices for Central America, Panama 
and Belize" has been submitted to the public and private sectors of member countries for 
consideration. 
5. The "Third Audit of Inspection, Control and A pproval Procedures (PICA) in the Agro-health 
Services of the OIRSA Region", was presented at the OIRSA Technical Committee. 
III. STRENGTHENING NATIONAL SANITARY INSTITUTIONS IN ORDER TO 
FACILITATE TRADE 
6. Support was given to the Agriculture and Food Safety Department of the Ministry of 
Agriculture of the Dominican Republic for revi ewing and presenting comments on three technical 
guides for good agricultural practices (GAP):  Te chnical Specifications for GAP in Fruit Tree 
Production, Technical Specifications for GAP in the Production of Greenhouse Vegetables, and Technical Specifications for GAP in the Production of Open Air Vegetables. 
7. In coordination with Spain's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) and the 
Training Centre of the Spanish International C ooperation Agency (AECI), a seminar was held on 
quality and safety assurance for agricultural products.  The objectives of the seminar were:  (a) to 
build countries' capacity to implement food control and safety systems;  (b) to reinforce the food 
control and safety systems of member countries;  and (c) to explore channels for communication and 
technical cooperation between member countries of OIRSA and the MAPA.  The seminar was attended by 36 people from the nine member countries of OIRSA;  20 public sector officials and eight 
private sector representatives from the beef, dairy, and fisheries industries. 
8. Support was given to the Ministry of Agriculture  and Livestock of El Salvador in reviewing 
the "Good Practices Guide for Traceab ility in Apiculture Production". 
IV. STRENGTHENING OIRSA'S RELATIONS WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL 
AGENCIES 
9. A Workshop for Trainers in the Auditing of  HACCP and GMP Systems was organized and 
coordinated jointly with PAHO and the IICA's ILRI Project.  It was attended by 44 officials from the 
nine member countries of OIRSA and the four countries of the ILRI project. 
10. In conjunction with the Federation of Poultr y Farmers of Central America and the IICA, 
OIRSA drew up a checklist to assess the degree of c ountries' preparedness for an outbreak of avian 
influenza. 
11. A proposal was formulated for a Mutual C ooperation Agreement between the United States 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food Safety  and Inspection Service (FSIS), the Food Safety 
Institute of the Americas (FSIA) and OIRSA. 
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