RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SPS/W/63
24May1996
ORGANIZATION(96-1976)
Original: Spanish Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
COMMUNICATION FROM ARGENTINA
Thefollowing communication hasbeenreceived fromthePermanent Mission oftheRepublic
ofArgentina.
_______________
Asof27April 1996, Argentina hasfulfilled therequirements toberecognized asafoot-and-
mouth disease-free country practising vaccination inaccordance withthestandards oftheInternational
Office ofEpizootics (IOE).
In1989, pursuant toafirmpolicy decision bytheNational Executive, theNational Animal
Health Service, which ispartoftheMinistry ofAgriculture, Fisheries andFood, drew upand
implemented the1990-1992 National PlanforFoot-and-Mouth Disease Control inagreement withthe
sectors connected withlivestock production.
Theachievements made under thisPlanprovided thefoundations forthepresent National
Eradication Plan-1993-1997 Stage. ThisPlancovered more than300,000 producers, whoinvested
100milliondollarsannually,thesectorsconnectedwithlivestockproduction,theprovincialgovernments
through theProvincial Animal Health Commissions (COPROSAs), themunicipalities and350Area
Animal Health Commissions.
Argentinahasnotrecordedanyoutbreakoverthelast24months,whichconfirmsthattheplanned
animal health measures, suchasstrictvaccination, control ofmovement oflivestock, severe emergency
action (including sanitary slaughter) andconsistency indecision-making were powerful instruments
inthisPlantocontrol anderadicate foot-and-mouth disease.
Inviewoftheabove-mentioned facts, thepresent epidemiological situation maybeconsidered
highly favourable, Argentina maytherefore beclassified asa"low risk" country from thesanitary
standpoint, asrecognized bytheUnited States andtheEuropean Union.