El Salvador and OIRSA
The activities, programs, and projects carried out by the OIRSA Representation in El Salvador have been aimed at supporting the efforts of national authorities in preventing, controlling, and eradicating pests and diseases, as well as ensuring the efficient administration of the delegated services.
Within the main achieved results and ongoing actions, we can mention:
Animal Health
- El Salvador declared itself free of Classical Swine Fever in April 2009. This achievement was possible thanks to the comprehensive efforts of the Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganaderia, the Armed Forces of El Salvador, municipal authorities, and OIRSA, which provided technical assistance and financial resources from both its own funds and the Prevention, Control, and Eradication of Classical Swine Fever in Central America, Belize, Panama, and the Dominican Republic (PREFIP) project, funded by the Republic of China (Taiwan).
- Implementation of the Bee Health Program, supporting the prevention and control of beekeeping diseases and promoting good practices. OIRSA provides technical assistance and funding for the emergency program to control and possibly eradicate the Small Hive Beetle. (Aethina tumida).
- Development of the regional program for the progressive control of bovine brucellosis, FAO-OIRSA, and member countries, coordinated from the Representation, with the purpose of declaring zones and/or areas as free from the disease. Additionally, a study is being conducted to determine the presence or absence of brucellosis, tuberculosis, arthritis, and encephalitis in sheep and goats in El Salvador, which is expected to be replicated in other countries in the region.
- Technical assistance has been provided in the framework of the Harmonized Bovine Traceability System, and basic regulations for implementing the system in the country have been formulated.
- Support for the disease surveillance program, including Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, Newcastle Disease, Avian Influenza, and Salmonella, among others.
Plant Health
-
- Support for the formulation and financing of the emergency program for the prevention and control of the Pink Hibiscus Mealybug (Maconellicoccus hirsutus).
- Within the framework of the project "Strengthening the OIRSA region in the control of Huanglongbing (HLB) and the implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) in citrus," two nurseries are being built. One is for the multiplication of buds, and the other is for a germplasm bank aiming to produce healthy citrus plants for the region. In the case of El Salvador, active pest surveillance is supported to prevent its introduction since the country maintains its HLB-free status in citrus.
- Support for pest surveillance: Melon thrips (Thrips palmi Karny), Red Palm Mite (Raoiella indica) and fruit flies.
- Support for strengthening plant health laboratories.
Delegated services:
- In El Salvador, quarantine treatments were delegated to OIRSA in 1974, giving rise to the International Fumigation Service, now known as the International Quarantine Treatment Service (SITC). Since its inception, procedures have been in line with international reference organizations such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the FAO. More recently, accreditation has been obtained from the Department of Agriculture of Australia for treatments with methyl bromide.
- Administration of the Pesticide Quality Control Laboratory: This is an official laboratory whose administration was delegated to OIRSA in May 1994, thanks to a partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the German Cooperation Agency (GTZ, now GIZ), and OIRSA. Currently, the laboratory has a Quality Management System, accredited tests under ISO/IEC 17025, and is a member of the Collaborative International Pesticides Analytical Council (CIPAC).
- Administration of the Pesticide Residue Laboratory: Official laboratory managed by OIRSA under delegation since December 2001. It has accredited tests under ISO/IEC 17025, such as histamine in tuna, chlorpyrifos, and metamidophos in sweet peppers.
In the following link, you can access the website of the laboratories: http://labsconveniomag-oirsa.com/