SEPA

Servicio de Protección Agropecuaria (SEPA)

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food (MAGA) of Guatemala delegated the administration of Plant and Animal Quarantine Services to OIRSA in September 1998 through agreement 263-98.

The purpose was to strengthen the Servicio de Protección Agropecuaria (SEPA) with trained professional staff, increasing efficiency in serving users and safeguarding Guatemalan agricultural health.

Similarly, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG) of Honduras also delegated the administration of Plant and Animal Quarantine Services to OIRSA in 2000 through agreement No. 84-2000.

In these two countries, SEPA is responsible for carrying out the operational and technical procedures of Agricultural Quarantine for MAGA and SAG, respectively.

SEPA is present at all border posts in Guatemala and Honduras that provide services for imports and exports of various goods, enforcing Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

SEPA inspectors undergo continuous training to strengthen their response skills to meet the demands of regional and international trade..

SEPA Activities

  1. Aircraft Quarantine Inspection: Quarantine officers perform inspections on commercial, private, and cargo aircraft, as well as the cargo they transport and passengers' luggage, to prevent the entry of agricultural products that may contain pests or diseases associated with these risk pathways. These inspections are carried out using intrusive and non-intrusive methods.

Non-intrusive inspections

      • Canine Unit
      • X-Ray

Intrusive Inspections

  1. Land transportation inspections: Land transportation inspections involve examining vehicles and cargo that enter a country via land routes, such as trucks, containers, and passenger vehicles, to detect potential risks of introducing pests or diseases associated with these modes of transportation or the products being transported.
  1. Maritime inspections: Quarantine officers conduct inspections on maritime transportation means such as ships, cargo vessels, cruises, recreational yachts, fishing vessels, etc., aiming to identify potential risk pathways for the entry of regulated cargo. Likewise, they inspect the galley and pantry areas of the transportation means to prevent the disembarkation of regulated agricultural products.
  1. ISO-9001 Certification:: Quality Management Standard: Countries with the Agricultural Protection Service - SEPA - have sought certification in the Quality Management Standard ISO-9001 to ensure user satisfaction through the implementation of effective and clear procedures.

SEPA Positions Map

Ing. José Iván Hernández

Director Regional de Servicios Cuarentenarios a.i.
Email: scuarentenarios@oirsa.org
Tel. (503) 2209-9200, Ext. 203