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### FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE FREE AREA WITH VACCINATION

I. SUMMARY OF THE REPORT Summary of Country Report pursuant to Chapter 2.2.10 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code to regain status of "Food and Mouth Disease (FMD) Free Area with Vaccination".
1. Diligent and Regular Notification of Animal Diseases (Describe the national system and what international bodies are notified of occurrences)The Epidemiological Surveillance System in place in Argentina requires report### ing of diseases of significance to animal health as provided for in current legislation establishing compulsory reporting for participants in the official system and private sector, the need to develop of awareness and information disseminationprogrammes, and the implementation structure for the Epidemiological Surveillance System (at local, regional and central level). 

### In addition, SENASA issued resolutions concordant with current international statutes on: notification of animal diseases, epidemiological surveillance andfollow-up, risk analysis, sanitary emergencies, and disease protection and control. (See Section 4.A Surveillance in Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area, Summary of the Report, and 11.2 — Surveillance). 

### At an international level, the Epidemiological Surveillance System provides prompt and regular notification of diseases, with the frequency and as required by intemational animal health bodies. 

### The Epidemiology Office of SENASA issues weekly and monthiy reports on sanitary events in the reported period. These reports are based on information collected by different epidemiological surveillance levels (Local, Regional and + i\ a n; ; ve ,n,tr

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~ ° yO.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Summary of the ReportBilateral agreements with neighbouring countries enabled the creation of a reciprocal, periodic information system that requires — in case of occun

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### prompt notification of sanitary events in a territory that may be a potential sanitary risk to neighbouring countries and affect their epidemiological status, such as the "del Plata River Basin Agreement" signed by Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, 

### Paraguay, Bolivia and Chile. Information on occurrence and/or suspect cases of diseases, including geographic location, strains of actuating virus, population exposed, diseased animals, etc. is reported regularly. These agreements also 

### require immediate notification of any risk situation affecting animal health in border areas.


### 2. Absence of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Outbreaks in the Area (Indicate date of last outbreak, see Section on FMD Eradication) The last FMD outbreak in Argentina occurred in August 2003, in the District of San Martin, Province of Salta, to the northwest of the country. 

### Immediately after the suspect case was detected (August 29), Official Services of countries in the region, trade partners, and intemational bodies (O.I.E., 

### PANAFTOSA PAHO/WHO, etc.) were notified.The Sanitary Emergency was declared by SENASA Resolution No. 2 of September 8, 2003. On September 5, 2003, tests results for serum samples collected from animals on the affected holding confirmed suspect case of FMD. The outbreak eradication strategy conformed to Section 3, Article 3.8.7.5, of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code. To regain status of FMD free with vaccination, as provided for in Article 

### 2.2.10.7, item 2 a), outbreak response included stamping out of susceptible and contact animals, vaccination, and controls to avoid spreading of the virus. In December 2003, the epidemiological enquiry and serotogy results indicated absence of infection 1 circulation of virus in the area. Consequently ; measures applied to control and eradicate the outbreak were lifted.

### In March 2004, results of complementary sampiing in the perifUcal drea conirmed abser:ce of infection ! circulation of vin!s Results demonstrated effec-

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### 3. Boundaries of the FM® Free Area and Surveillance Area (Briefly describe geography of FMD free and surveillance areas. Include map showing both areas). The FMD free area with vaccination is systematically vaccinated for FMD.The area includes the Provinces of Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca, La Rioja, Tucuman, Santiago del Estero, Santa Fe, Con
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### doba, Buenos Aires, La Pampa, San Juan, San Luis, Mendoza and Rio Negro.To the South is the FMD free area without vaccination that serves as surveillance zone for the area that was recognized by the O.I.E. (in May 2002) as FMD free without vaccination (Provinces of Chubut, Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego). 

### The southern boundary of the FMD free area with vaccination is the Negro River and the political boundary of the Province of Neuquen. 

### The northem boundary is the international border vvith Bolivia and Paraguay, where a 25 Km. vvide Protection Zone was defined (Provinces of Jujuy, Salta and Formosa). 

### This border zone that has an area of 3 million hectares and is approximately 1,200 Km. long extends from the Santa Catalina District in the Province of Jujuy 

### to the Laishi District in the Province of Formosa. The Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Healthrequires the buffer zone to protect an FMD free area with vaccination to be beyond the Free Area. This requirement was impossible to meet because the area is an intemational border, therefore the buffer zone was established in the free area and is referred to as "Protection Zone". 

### (See details and Map in Annex 11 BORDER PROTECTION PROGRAMME — NORTHERN BORDER)
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~ iii ifViiliiij_O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Summary of the Report Border with BRAZIL (IVortheast and East). Border with URUGUAY (East).

Borderwith Chile Total length of the border: 4.591 Km. Length of Dry Border: 4.591 Km. Characteristic: The Andean Mountain Range constitutes a natural border.

Border with Bolivia Total length of the border: 765 Km. Length of river border: 385 Km. Along the Pilcomayo River: 40 Km. (Province of Salta). Along the Grande de Tarija River: 120 Km. (Province of Salta). Along the Bermejo River: 125 Km. (Province of Salta). Along other smaller rivers: 100 Km. (Provinces of Salta and Jujuy). Length of Dry Border: 380 Km.Topography along the Bolivian border slopes from West to East. Average altitude in the West is 3,000 metres, and in the East only 400 metres.
Border with Paraguay Total length of the border: 1.570 Km. Length of river border: 1.220 Km. Along the Parana River: 630 Km. (Provinces of Corrientes and Misiones). Along the Paraguay River: 290 Km. (Provinces of Formosa and Chaco). Along the Pilcomayo River: 300 Km. (Province of Formosa). Length of Dry Border (diverted bed of Pilcomayo River): 350 Km. (La Estrella Swamp or Pantalon System). The western border is dry and the piains in the Province of Formosa continue fnto Paraguay with no natural geographic interruption. T he Piicornayo River bed reappears to t he East of 

### the town of Pa!mar, District of Salto.

t3ulClel Vvlifi C3fde-iiO.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Summary of the Report Length of river border: 1.052 Km. Along the Uruguay River: 695 Km. (Provinces of Misiones and Corrientes). Along the Pepiri-Guazu River: 134 Km. (Province of Misiones). Along the San Antonio River: 94 Km. (Province of Misiones). Along the Iguazu River: 129 Km. (Province of Misiones). Length of dry border: 27 Km. (Bemardo de Irigoyen area). The border with Brazil follows the Iguazu River (Northem border) and continues along the Uruguay River to the South.
Border with Uruguay Total length of the border: 866 Km. Length of river border: 866 Km. Along the Uruguay River: 491 Km. (Provinces of Corrientes and Entre Rios). Along the Del Plata River: 375 Km. (Province of Buenos Aires). This border is clearly defined by two rivers (Uruguay and Del Plata).O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Summary of the Report 

### Map showing FMD Free Area with Vaccination

Regiones con distintos Status Sanitarios

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# 11O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Summary of the Report 

### 4. Free Area A. Surveillance (Briefly describe the system, see Section on Surveillance in FMD free area) The National Epidemiological Surveillance System implemented by SENASAprovides timely, reliable, up-dated information on emerging and existing diseases as provided for in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Chapter 1.3.6, of the World Organisation forAnimal Health. The system is based on a set of necessary actions to prevent and allow early detection of animal diseases and enable effective control and eradication. The two main components of the Surveillance System are: active surveillance and passive surveillance. 

### Within SENASA, the central, regional and local levels are responsible for the actions and the implementation of the System.a) At the Central Level: primary responsibility lies with the Epidemiology Of

### fice of the National Animal Health Directorate (DNSA). The Epidemiology Office receives technical support from the TechnicalAdvisory Epidemiology Commission that was created by SENASA Resolution No. 369/2001. The members of this Commission are experts of the 

### National Farm Technology Institute (INTA), the Animal Virology Centre (CEVAN), and Schools of Veterinary Sciences. Responsibilities of the Epidemiology Office include: • Epidemio-surveillance and continuous monitoring. • Assessment of epidemiological indicators. • Follow-up of vaccination campaigns. • Recording of notifications, suspect cases and outbreaks of diseases. 

### • Epidemiological analysis and follow-up.
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~ .O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Summary of the Report b) At the Regional Level: primary responsibility lies with the 23 Regional Supervisors of the National Animal Health Directorate. 

### Regional Supervisors are mainly responsible for auditing in their region. c) At the Local Level: primary responsibility lies with the Local Veterinarians that manage the Local SENASA Offices (305).Local SENASA Veterinarians are responsible for directly implementing the actions and constitute the first level of response and collection of information. 

### Information is received from voluntary reporting, slaughterhouses, veterinarians in private practice, farmers, truckers, livestock dealers, local animal health NGOs, etc. Main actions at this Level: • Primary response to reported cases. 

### • Preparation of protocols and forwarding of notifications and reports on suspect cases of FMD and other diseases. . Reporting on progress of vaccination campaigns, serological monitoring, etc. (See Section 11.2 Surveillance)


### B. Regulatory Measures (Briefly list governing legislation, see Section on FMD Prevention in Free Area) Law No. 3959 of 1902 issued by the Executive Branch creates the Animal Health Law Enforcement Authority. 

### Law No. 24.305 of 1993 issued by the Executive Branch, is the National Foot and Mouth Disease Law. This law and Regulatory Decree No. 643/96 state that FMD eradication in Argentina is of national interest and create the National Foot and Mouth Disease Eradication Program.
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### the requlremenT.s and restrictions to impoii iive

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r . _. _. _ _ .O.I.E. - Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Summary of the Report Resolution No. 295/1999 lists products of animal and plant origin that do not 

### represent a risk for animal or plant health and that may be imported through points of entry into the country by persons and/or in their luggage.Resolution No. 299/1999 approves the Procedures Manual for checking individuals, luggage and transport vehicles at border posts. 

### Resolution No. 647/1996 determines requirements for transit of animals through Argentina from or between MERCOSUR member states (Common Market of the South). Resolution No. 761/1999 establishes that individuals or companies operating in

### intemational postal trade and that as a result may wish to import veterinary medicinal products, must register with the Register of Wholesalers of Veterinary Medicinal Products. Registration requirements. Responsibility of the Technical Director.Resolution No. 501/2001 approves the Border Posts Manual and actions re

### quired at Authorised Border Posts pursuant to the Animal Health Prevention System to prevent entry of exotic animal diseases and quarantine or high risk plant pests. 

### SENASA Resolution No. 779/99 establishes the National Sanitary Emergency System and creates the Regional Emergency Response Teams. 

### SENASA Resolution No. 58/2001 establishes requirements for movement ofanimals, products and by-products between regions defined in the FMD Eradication Programme. SENASA Resolution No. 383/2001 updates the Vesicular Disease Notification 

### System. SENASA Resolution No. 34/2002 defines the period in which bovines will bevaccinated for FMD concordant with geographic, epidemiological and production characteristics of the different regions. 

### S€"IASA Resolution nlo. 35/2nn2 annrnves the Epidemiological Enquiry and Control Actions Programme for suspect cases of FMD. SENASA. Reso[ution n!c 37i20O2 defines additional epidemiological enquiries, 

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~ Euria;O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Summary of the Reportregulations, such as: notification of animal diseases, epidemiological surveillance and follow-up, risk analysis, and sanitary emergencies. SENASA Resolution No. 81612002 defines requirements for importing animalproducts and by-products, veterinary products, and products containing substances of animal origin. (See ANNEX III - LEGAL FRAMEWORK).



### C. Compliance of Vaccines with O.I.E. Standards (State whether FMD vaccine complies with O.I.E. Standards, see Section on Prevention in FMD Free Area) AII batches of vaccines manufactured in the country are tested by the AnimalLaboratory Department of the Official Laboratory and Technical Control Directorate (DILACOT) of SENASA as provided for in above described statute (Reso

### lution No. 219/95) that is concordant with the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals of the O.I.E. (See Section on FMD Prevention).



### D. Evidence of Absence of Viral Activity (Briefly describe the system, see Section on FMD Surveillance in Free Area) Absence of virus circulation is determined following the criteria of Annex 3.8.6 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the O.I.E. 

### Sources of information for the National Epidemiological Surveillance system
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### - Passive Surveillance: response of trained staff to notifications of suspect cases of vesicular diseases following procedures and statutory requirements. 

### Training and informative meetings for all players in the livestocking sector. _ Acti; , e Citnicilianca• cnertific r_.nntrols including clinical inspection (at livestock

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### markets, road controls, prior to shipment of animais, at slaughterhouses, etc.), and sPro-surveiliance with specific sarnplinq design.

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### (BORDER PROTECTION PROGRAMME — NORTHERN BORDER includingdescription of the area and actions required in the Protection Zone, is attached). A. Surveillance(Briefly describe the system, see Section on FMD Surveillance in Protection Zone) The Surveillance System for the Protection Zone includes additional actions to 

### those required in the rest of the country. For the annual serological samplings,the Protection Zone is included in the "border" area. The Protection Zone is subject to additional samplings with a specific design and stringent assumptions. In general, samples are collected during vaccination campaigns. (See Surveillance, Section B.2 Serological Surveillance).

### Areas are characterised according to their epidemiological risk. Holdings of importance for prevention purposes are identified based on a number of indicators and subject to continuous surveillance including clinical inspections, follow-up, and stringent controls on animal population and movements. 

### This area also has active surveillance since all animals must be inspected prior to shipment to other areas. Additionally, the area is patrolled and border controls are tighter.

### (BORDER PROTECTION PROGRAMME — NORTHERN BORDER that includes the area and actions required in the Protection Zone is attached).


### B. Regulatory Framework (Briefly describe regulatory framework, see Section on FMD Prevention in Protection Zone) Regulations listed in Section 4.6 also apply to the Protection Zone. 

### SENASA Resolution No. 876/2002 authorises entry and transit of raw bovinehides and bovine leather chew bites for dogs originating from Paraguay, pro

### vided pruducts are treated to ensure inuctivation of FMDV. SENASA i'esolution
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- t?;ju^t Is adeCluatel;% oroCQssed tO @nGUre inactivatlon of r iVl Li\iO.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Summary of the ReportSENASA Resolution No. 1l2004 authorises transit to third countries of maturated beef, and chilled and frozen boneless beef free of visible lymph nodes from Paraguay, provided products are adequately treated to ensure inactivation of FMDV and do not present risk of contamination, as provided for in Recommendations for Risk Mitigation (Intemational Animal Health Code). SENASA Resolution No. 403 of June 14, 2004 provides technical and economic justification for border protection activities including prevention strategies and measures to be included in the specific programmes.SENASA Resolution No. 446/2004 establishes the "Border Protection Programme Department" under the National Animal Health Directorate. The mission of this Department is to implement actions as required by the Programme, and interact with other SENASA offices involved in border protection such as the Agrifood Directorate, the International Trade Office, and the Official Services of neighbouring countries. Above Resolutions apply to the whole country. For more details see ANNEX III - LEGAL FRAMEWORK.

C. Compliance of Vaccines w+ith O.I.E. Standards (State if FMD vaccine complies with O.I.E. Standards. See Section on FMD Prevention in Protection Zone) See Item 4.C.O.I.E. - Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area Wth Vaccination Section on Prevention.



### II. REPORT CONTENT II. 1. SECTION ABOUT FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE PREVENTION A. AREA FREE FROM FOOT AND MOUTH DlSEASE
Sum up prevention measures for foot and mouth disease applied to the free 

### from this disease area. Make reference to regulations and national legislation and directives of the veterinary services and when appropriate, include the texts in an enclosed document. Please, provide a brief answer to the following points:


### A. 1. National coordination (and international, if appropriate)National coordination of all the measures referred to animal health and particularly to Foot and Mouth Disease is carried out by the NATIONAL ANIMALHEALTH AND AGRIFOOD QUALITY SERVICE — SENASA. Through its struc

### ture, established by Decree N° 1585/96, SENASA coordinates the actions against FMD, this faculties are granted by Laws N° 23.899, 3959 and 24.305.The National Bureau of Animal Health of SENASA, implements the FMD Eradication Plan, with an operative and a regulatory area, which enables to audit and apply the strategies and actions established in the Plan. (See 2. Veterinary Services of Section about Farming industry and Veterinary System.).

lnternationa/ Coordination: OIE: 

### The Argentine Republic, as a member state, provides the setting for the officialprograms of fight, prevention and eradication of animal diseases in the coordination actions that OIE leads.
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### against foot and mouth disease, actions of epidemiological survey and the improving of the Continental System of Information. In that way, based on binational agreements, the Argentine Republic added 

### border programs, thus assuring the knowledge of the epidemiological situation,the development of vaccination campaigns, united training and mutual warranties that strengthen Regional and National Systems of Epidemiological Survey.
Hemispheric Plan to Control and Eradicate Foot and Mouth DiseaseThe Hemispheric Plan to Control and Eradicate Foot and Mouth Disease is co

### ordinated by the Pan American Foot and Mouth Disease Centre (PANAFTOSA). Argentina participates in a subprogram of the Hemispheric Planto Control and Eradicate Foot and Mouth Disease, the "del Plata Basin Agreement to Eradicate Foot and Mouth Disease".


### Del Plata Basin Agreement for the Eradication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease The Agreement was signed by Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil in Porto Alegre, Brazil, to discuss and co-ordinate a common strategy to eradicate Foot and

### Mouth Disease. The strategic plan was developed by experts of all three countries in February, 1988 and became operational in 1989. Paraguay and then Bolivia joined in 1992. Chile participates as an observer. From the regional epidemic in 2001, a program to adequate strategies and united actions between states that consists in subprojects to work in the frontier,the re-implementation of vaccination against foot and mouth disease, epidemiological survey actions and the improving of the Continental System of Information was established in the action plan of the Hemispheric Plan to Control and Eradicate Foot and Mouth Disease (PHEFA). 

### Thus, according to binational agreements, Argentina added frontier programs, assul

~ ing the k iowiedge of epidemiological situatinn, rlevelOpment of Vacclna

### tion campaigns, joint training and mutual guarantees that strengthen Regional and National Systems nf EPidemioiogicai Survey

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~ IGIdfIJ iiufTi cdGiiO.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on Prevention,country, and two permanent consultants - the Co-ordinator and the Epidemiologist - for the member countries. 

### The Technical Advisory Group, that meets four times a year, is the operational arm of the Agreement.

### The multilateral Agreement establishes a reciprocal information system that requires weekly reports on confirmed and/or suspect cases of vesicular diseases stating geographic location, actuating virus strains, exposed population, number of diseased animals, etc. The system also requires immediate notification of any health risk situation in border areas. Member countries also exchange information on prices of live steers to identify 

### risk situations or trends in the illegal trade of animals, products and by-products in border areas.The Agreement also requires any country that identifies a suspect case or dis

### ease in an area within 60 Km. from the border, or in any other geographical area that may represent a risk for any of the signatory countries, to immediatelynotify the neighbouring countries to allow implementation of appropriate preventive measures.
Technical Assistance Agreement between Argentina and Bolivia 

### Argentina is collaborating with the Govemment of Bolivia to eradicate FMD with technology transfer and technical assistance to design the Bolivian Animal Health Program. 

### SENASA's Laboratories Office provided training to Bolivian technicians to carry out and standardise serum tests for FMD diagnosis (VIAA and EITB). Periodical meetings are kept between the agents of both countries to exchange health information referred to registers, animal population, risk zones or top prevention, vaccination, notifications and suspicions, serological sampling, etc.In his turn and altogether with other states of the region, Boiivia recelVCs cooperation to make and organize the Plan for the Control and Eradication of Foot

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~ vO.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on Prevention. Argentina and Paraguay agreed to work together to define an FMD vaccination, prevention and epidemio-surveillance program to mitigate the risk of FMD in the border area. Recently, the National Animal Health and Agrifood Quality Service (SENASA) signed a letter of intent with the Sanitary Service of Paraguay (SENACSA) andthe White Caps Board to `agree on the mechanism of participation and cooperation' of the latter on both sides of the frontier within the terms of the Regional Program for Foot and Mouth Disease Eradication that is driven by the Southern Farming Council (CAS). Limited by these actions, the Program of Frontier Inspection —that Resolution SENASA No. 403 created this year— was implemented. See enclosed document referred to Inspection Zone for more details about it.
Southern Farming Council (CAS) and Permanent Veterinary Committee of Southem Cone (CVP). Farming Ministries of the expanded MERCOSUR (Southern Union) member states (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and Chile) signed the agreement which forms the Southem Farming Council (CAS), as an instrumentof dialogue, advice and coordination of activities for the region relating to farming, forestry and fishing areas, animal and plant health and food harmlessness as well as international negotiations on products commerce. Within CAS it was constituted the Permanent Veterinary Committee of theSouthem Cone (CVP), with the principal aim of coordinating actions and increasing regional capability of prevention, control and avoidance of health risksand impacts that damage production and commercialization of animals, products and byproducts of animal origin in the region. The CVP is composed by toplevel authorities of Animal Health Ministries of inember states. Among its outstanding functions, the CVP coordinates actions and strategies of inemberstates before other countries or economic communities to facilitate commercialization of farming products; coordinates the activities of the member states before i(iternatioiiai GrganiZa^tions (,' _.IE, N„trttior,81 Goriex, FAC), OPv, etc. , : summons the formatlon oT rllultllilatiiiiiionai aiid .=taffS ._ _aI'_

. ._ orvnorn.nnnirO.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area v,rith Vaccination Section on Prevention. 

### A. 2. Import Controls (in the region) Procedures and criteria to issue import permits for live animals, their geneticmaterial and animal products, are based on the principles of Risk Analysis, re

### gionalisation and equivalence promoted by the World Trade Organisation, health data, and O.I.E. recommendations. 

### Permits to import live animals, reproductive material and animal products must be approved in advance by SENASA's head office. SENASA has an Animal Quarantine Advisory Committee whose members are 

### professionals from a number of SENASA offices and experts from the National University of Buenos Aires, the National University of La Plata, the INTA, the National Virology Institute, and others. Import permits are issued only if the products are not viable for the FMDV, as defined in 0.1. E. recommendations. At the border posts, documentation and identity checks are perFormed, and thegoods are inspected based on the premise that the zoosanitary risk of the products or animals for which an import permit has been issued was assessed prior to arrival. At the border posts, transportation vehicles, passengers and luggage are also inspected for any unauthorised goods that may be carried. 

### SENASA has signed agreements with other official agencies responsible for controlling border areas. New agreements were signed with the Border Patrol Authority (surface freight) and with the Argentine Coast Guard (maritime and river freight controls).


### A. 2. 1. Risk Policy and Risk Assessment The FMD Eradication Program is based on a continuous analysis of the health risks as defined in O.I.E. standards. nrni c

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~ ,O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area v,rith Vaccination Section on Prevention. anima!s and reproductive material) and of the International Traffic Office (forproducts of animal origin), to assess the possibilities of risk spread. These procedures are based on the app!ication of international rules of the OIE and become the refusal or acceptation of those imports. In case of acceptation the hea!th requirements are e!aborated as measures to be app!ied to reduce risks.

### The regu!ations are SENASA Resolution No. 1354194 that rules over procedures of live animal imports, and SENASA Resolution No. 816/02 for procedures of animal product imports.

### In border posts the physical, documental and identification contro!s are performed to verify that everything that is imported has fu!filled the estab!ished procedures for import, and had gone with the pre-estab!ished corresponding international documents. 

### In the same way, in border posts, checks of ineans of transport, passengersand luggage is performed in order to detect the probab!e entrance of nonauthorized merchandise. Regarding hea!th po!icy of imports about Foot-and-Mouth Disease, the criteria 

### of OIE Code ix are app!ied considering the recognized status of the territorywhere merchandise come from as well as the one of the territory where merchandise go to in Argentina. These aspects are estab!ished by SENASA Resolution No. 398/99. The Risk Analysis Unit, created by SENASA Resolution No. 185/03, gives 

### backup on hea!th po!icy, in this case re!ated to Foot and Mouth Disease.
A.2.2. Animals and products • Ports/borders 

### • National and International waste • Animals • Genetic material (semen and embryos) • Biological products • Meat and other animal products (milk, meat products) !'rocedures and criteria to issue innpoi

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. ~ . ,.O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area vrith Vaccination Section on Prevention.sanitary measures of the World Trade Organisation, and O.I.E. recommendations. Permits to import live animals, reproductive material and animal products must be approved in advance by SENASA's head office. SENASA requires a permit to import live animals, their genetic material andanimal products. The import permit is issued provided the goods meet the applicable zoosanitary requirements. Import permits may be authorised after a complete analysis and assessment of: • The type of product that wwill be imported. • The health status of the exporting country. • The approval of the slaughter or processing plant in the country of origin. • The transit of the goods through third countries. • Approved port of entry into Argentina. • Expected use of the product. • Point of destination for the product.
AII imported live animals must be quarantined at SENASA's quarantine facility in the City of Buenos Aires. Quarantine requirements are in line with international recommendations (30 days). At the end of the quarantine period, the animalsmay be shipped to the holding of destination where they remain under postquarantine observation for another thirty (30) days. At that time, the local SENASA veterinarian issues the post-quarantine certificate. mported breeding ruminants are continuously controlled until the end of their life, as required bythe Epidemio-Surveillance System to avoid the entry of bovines affected by Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). Measures have been adopted to avoid the re-entry and reduce the risk of FMD. These measures mitigate the external risk and establish appropriate internal controls to enable an early detection of the disease. Specific rules and sanitary actions have been developed to reduce the possibilities of the FMDV entering the country. f he rules that detine pre-irrportation ptocedures and controls for goods and ;Qalth rarifi^.ntFS rRni;ired at 1!I o .G!nts :?r entr'J arPO.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on Prevention. 

### SENASA Resolution N° 81612002 (animal products and by-products), SENASA Resolution N° 1354/1994 (live animals and their reproductive material), SENASA Resolution N° 1415/94 (specificalfy refers to semen and embryos). SENASA Resolution N° 99/1999 created the Beagle dog Brigade that operates at the main airports. The dogs are trained to identify organic material carried by 

### passengers and in luggage. The main Approved Border Posts have scanners (X-rays) to identify organic material. A joint Resolution (N° 636/1999) issued by the Internal Revenue Service (AFIP) and SENASA (N° 760) established the Customs Declaration Form and Affidavit on Animals, Plants, and Farm Products carried into the country. AII passengers entering Argentina must complete this form. SENASA Resolution N° 647/1996 refers to animal transit through the territory, from one of the party states or among the party states of the south common 

### market. SENASA Resolution N° 761/1999 establishes that individuals or legal entities,

### developing activities related to intemational postal market, and intending to introduce veterinary products to the country, shall be registered in the Registry of Veterinary Products Distribution. Registration requirements. Responsibilities of the professional acting as Technical Director. 

### SENASA Resolution N° 501/2001 approves the Border Manual. Actions to be developed in the Approved Border Posts, within the framework of 

### the Prevention Sanitary system about introduction of exotic diseases animals and quarantine plant pests or of high risk.

### At the points of entry into the country, billboards and brochures provide information on the products that represent a health risk for animals and plants and therefore are banned for entry into Argentina.SENASA has signed a number of agreements with other law enforcement authorities (Border Patrol, Coast Guard) to have their assistance in controiling the borders and other points of entry.



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A.2.3. Biosafety AII slaughter plants with federal transit (SENASA approval for products of these plants to transit among difFerent provinces) approved by SENASA must comply with biosafety requirements for pathological and non-pathological waste, andeffluents. Compliance is verified and audited by SENASA to ensure strict compliance with current statutes. Compliance with biosafety requirements is specified in the National Meat Law N° 22375.

A.3. Supervision by Official Veterinary Services The Official Service supervises the development and actions within SENASA's scope of authority for imports, specifically: • Import controls based on technical procedures and criteria in line with the country's health status and international requirements. • Risk assessment by the Risk Analysis Team and other areas, for the permits to import and export animals and products. AII control actions and procedures at the borders are perFormed by SENASA offlcials.

A.4. Use of Vaccines against FMD A.4.1. Use of Vaccines The National Plan foresees regular and systematic vaccination of the bovinespecies. Strategic or emergency vaccination is used for other susceptible species. The vaccine used is inactivated, oily, provides extended immunity and is manufactured by private laboratories under SENASA control. AII the vaccine against FMD used within the territory is national.T;^Jo annual vacr_.inations are carded out on all the bovine population. This vaccInation Is performed by otfclal vaccinator5 €hat repoii to tie i_ocai A^Im al Health NGOs Vaccination is scheduled and co-ordinated by the proyianiniersO.f.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area Wth Vaccination Section on Prevention.Local SENASA Veterinarians certify, control, and audit the vaccination campaigns, and, on scheduled dates, submit reports on the progress of the campaign to SENASA's Head Office. SENASA, at the local, regional and central level, is responsible for the analysis, monitoring and follow-up of the campaigns.In some regions, vaccination dates difFer to accommodate to the production systems, and the geographic and epidemiological characteristics of the area. More than 115 million doses were applied in 2003, in two campaigns. A total of58.225.307 doses were applied in the first annual campaign, in 2004. The sec

### ond campaign is under implementation (see aftached table for more details.)

A.4.2. Production of vaccines 

### Production and quality control of the vaccine against FMD in Argentina meet therequirements of the O.I.E. Manual of standards for diagnostic tests and vaccines and with the recommendations of the OIE Reference Regional Centre, 

### PANAFTOSA. Argentina is capable of producing enough vaccines to attend the demand of all the country. 

### Vaccine production and diagnosis comply with biosafety NBS-3 Agriculture standards. A biosafety committee (SENASA Resolutions N° 104/95-472/95- 507/01-117/04) controls compliance of the standards.The vaccines used are manufactured with an oil-based, inactivated with a firstorder chemical inactivator (BEI: binary ethylene imine). The vaccine used in Argentina contains the following strains: 01 Campos, A24 Cruzeiro, A Argentina 2000 and A Argentina 2001.

### A suspension of BHK-21 cells and the Frenkel method are used for viral replication.

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### Manufacturers apply internal quality controls that include: antigenic identity and mass, inactivation kinetics, conductivity, viscosity, sterility and safety. SENASA perForms auditories of the production processes in critical points. After filling, stamping, and completing the intemal controls, the vaccines are subjected to official controls for approval.
A.4.3. Quality Control for Vaccines AII series of FMD vaccines manufactured in the country are tested by 

### SENASA"s Laboratory (DILACOT), as required in SENASA Resolution N° 219/95 and annexes 6195 and 195/2001. Samples at random of the final product are collected to perform official controls. Each series is tested for: 

### Safety: Elution and concentration of the vaccine virus, passage through BHK cells, and inoculation of the whole-virus vaccine in lactating mice.Sterility: Seeding in normal laboratory media to demonstrate absence of bacterial or fungal contaminants. Stability: Viscosity, conductivity, centrifuge and accelerated ageing tests are used to confirm stability of emulsion and it is controlled at different temperatures (ambient, 37°C).

### Purity: Vaccines must not interfere with tests to detect antibodies against nonstructural proteins of FMDV. Sera from bovines used for Potency Test are tested with 3 ABC ELISA + EITB. Efficacy or Potency: a) Vaccines submitted for registration or first series to control: Vaccines submitted for registration are tested with the generalized foot infection(PGP). Sixteen (16) antibody free bovines, borrl and raised in the free zone without vaccination (Patagonia) are challenged and tested ninety (90) days after 

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### body free bovines — previously confirmed with liquid phase ELISA -, are vaccinated. The animals selected fro the FMD free area without vaccination and are taken to an experimental field managed by the Official Service in Colonia 25 de

### Mayo, Province of La Pampa. The animals are bled 30 and 60 days after vaccination. The level of specific antibodies for each one of the valencies included inthe vaccine is tested with liquid phase ELISA. The average of the 16 titres determines the Expected Protection Percentage (EPP) for each valency. The minimum EPP to approve a series is 81% for each one of the four valencies (SENASA Resolution N° 251/03). The series of vaccines that successfully passes all the controls is approved and released for marketing.If a series fails any of the controls, the series is rejected, condemned and destroyed.



### B. PROTECTION ZONE Provide a summary of Foot and Mouth disease prevention applied in the Protection zone. Make reference to regulations and national legislation and directives of veterinary services, and if appropriate, include the texts in the annex. Please, provide a brief answer of the following items: B.1. National Coordination (and International, if appropriate)National coordination of all the measures referred to animal health and particularly to Foot and Mouth Disease is carried out by the NATIONAL ANIMALHEALTH AND AGRIFOOD QUALITY SERVICE — SENASA. Through its structure, established by Decree N° 1585/96, SENASA coordinates the actions against FMD, this faculties are granted by Laws N° 23.899, 3959 and 24.305.The National Bureau of Animal Health of SENASA, implements the FMD Eradi

### cation Plan, with an operative and a regulatory area, which enables to audit and appiy the strategies and actions estabiished in the Plan. A specific area was created to coordinate, implement and perform the follow-up 

### of the urevention, surueillance and control sanitary measures. within the scope ^f' o:i3tir;;;

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~ .O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on Prevention. unit which purpose is to implement the actions of the Program, interacting withother areas of SENASA, such as the Agrifood Inspection Office and International Traffic Office and official services of neighbouring countries. One of the main parts of the BORDER CONTROL PROGRAM — NORTHERN BORDER for the Protection Zone, is the implementation of joint sanitary actionsin the border area, with the Republic of Bolivia and Paraguay, through agreements, in order to keep an homogenous epidemio-surveillance system in the region. With regards to Regional and International Coordination of the Border ControlProgram, implemented in the Protection Zone, it is carried out through cooperation bilateral and technical assistance agreements with neighbouring countries and the participation of Argentina in different international entities described in point A. 1. (OIE, PANAFTOSA, CAS, CVP). (See point A.1 of this section and Annex 11 BORDER CONTROL PROGRAM — NORTHERN BORDER dealing with the area and actions to be implemented in the Protection Zone).
B.2. Imports Control (in the zone) The same import controls described for the free area (item A.2.) are applied to this zone. In the case of introduction of susceptible animals from the free zone of the country, identification by caravan and revaccination are required.
B.2.1. Policy and Risk Assessment The same import policies and risk assessment described in point A.2.1. area applied to this zone.A continuous assessment of situations that could increase the risk of illegal introduction of animals and products from neighbouring countries is performed.

B.2.2. Animals and animal products • Portslborders • IVationai arld iiiterioatie:isai `niisaste • Animals
GeneticO.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area vrith Vaccination Section on Prevention.

• Biological products

• Meat and other animal products (milk, meta products) See point A.2.2. Controls are reinforced jointly vvith other law enforcement authorities such as Border Patrol, Coast Guard, provincial governments, etc. in this protection zone.
B.2.3. Biological safety See point A.2.3.

B.3. Supervision by Official Veterinary Services See point A.3.

B.4. Use of Vaccines against FMD B.4.1. Use of Vaccines AII susceptible farm species (not only bovines) are vaccinated and individually identified by caravans in the zone of the Border Control Program unlike the rest of the free zone. Vaccination is ofFicial, and the operative costs and costs of thevaccine are paid by the National State. Operative actions are perFormed by Regional Supervisors, SENASA veterinarians and vaccinators hired for this purpose. The vaccine is the same as for the rest of the country. (See Annex 11 BORDER CONTROL PROGRAM — NORTHERN BORDER).

B.4.2. Vaccine Production. See point A.4.2.
B.4.3. Vaccine Quality Control See point A.4.3.O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance 11.2. SECTION ABOUT FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE SURVEILLANCE

A. FOOT AND MOUTH FREE ZONEProvide a summary of foot and mouth disease surveillance measures applied in the foot and mouth disease free zone. Make reference to regulations and national legislation and directives of veterinary services, and if appropriate, include the texts in the annex. Please, provide a brief answer of the following items: The National Epidemio-Surveillance System implemented by SENASA seeks toobtain timely, reliable and updated information on all aspects related to emerging and existing diseases, as stated in Chapter 1.3.6. of the O.I.E.'s Intemational Animal Health Code.The system includes methods, actions and procedures that enable an early detection of diseases and infections/viral circulation. These activities foresee passive and active surveillance procedures.The National Epidemio-Surveillance System, established by SENASA Resolution N° 234/96, comprises every sector, both official and private, related to livestock production.SENASA established, by Resolution N° 422/2003, a regulatory framework foreseeing all aspects related to protection and fight against diseases, adapted to the international standards in force in every subject about systems of: • Notification of animal diseases, • Epidemiological surveillance and ongoing epidemiological follow up, • Risk analysis, • Sanitary emergencies
Passive Epidemio-surveillance: Passive surveillance has precise standards such as the Law of Sanitary Police 

### ni , 3959 , the FMD Law N -- 24.305 and regulatory decree N° 643 establishing mandatory, immediate reporting of suspect cases of diseases with FMD-like 

### symptoms as this Is 

### basic and indispensable to the effectiveness of the Survelliance SyyteinO.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance AII individuals that are in direct or indirect contact with animals are sensors of 

### the National Epidemio-Surveillance System and can make an early detection and effectively control the spreading of the disease.

Sources of information a) Farmers:Representatives of Farming Bodies make up, at different levels (Central, Regional and Local), the technical, political-administrative commissions and the executive structure of the National Plan for the Eradication of the FMD. They are responsible for keeping the people they represent updated regarding policies, decisions and standards established by the Plan.
b) Official Animal Health Agents of SENASA:The Official Service has qualified agents trained to collect relevant epidemiological information on the health status of the animals. These agents are sta### tioned at he Local SENASA Offices, the slaughter plants, laboratories and livestock concentration markets of other Official Bodies. 

### The participation of other official agents, such as professionals of the National Farming Technology Institute (INTA) that work at the Extension Centres in thevarious districts and/or departments, the Regional Veterinarians of the Provincial Livestock Bureaus, and the veterinarians working for the local govemments,increase the number of qualified informants that make the system more effi

### cient.
c) Officially Authorised Professionals: There are 360 Local Animal Health NGO"s in the national territory, integrated by 

### more than 5000 ofFicially authorized professionals (Coordinators, Programmers, Veterinar'y Physicians, Vaccinators) wh ~ 

### are in charae of carrying outthe vaccination campaigns

### These professionals are trained to detect and notify cases ol' diseases with vesicu.lar-like svmotoms.

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