Ministerial Agreement SAG 107-2024

Honduras declares a health alert due to the risk of introduction of the Cattle Grub (a disease affecting animals and humans), activating a prevention plan with thorough inspections at borders, animal movement controls, and restricted schedules from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. This measure protects the livestock sector and national economy given confirmed cases in neighboring countries.

Whereas Article 145 of the Constitution of the Republic of Honduras recognizes the right to protection of Health.

Whereas by Decree No. 157-94 of November 4, 1994 and published in the Official Gazette La Gaceta on January 13, 1995, amended by Decree No. 344-2005, the Phytozoosanitary Law was created with the fundamental purpose of establishing legislation that would protect the country from the possible entry of pests and diseases that would cause detriment to the agricultural sector of our economy.

Whereas the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the Agreement of the World Trade Organization in its Article 2 establishes as basic rights and obligations of its members the adoption of necessary sanitary and phytosanitary measures to protect the health and life of persons and animals or to preserve plants, provided that such measures are not incompatible with the provisions of said Agreement.

Whereas it corresponds to the Executive Branch, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG), the planning, standardization and coordination of all activities at the national, regional, departmental and local levels relating to plant health, animal health, their information mechanisms and food safety. For this purpose, the National Service for Agricultural Health (SENASA) was created.

Whereas the Republic of Honduras is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and consequently assumes the responsibility for the compliance and application of its Agreements, including the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS Agreement), an instrument that establishes guidelines for its member countries to establish their sanitary measures in a transparent manner and with the necessary technical and scientific support so that they do not become unnecessary obstacles to trade.

Whereas it corresponds to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG), through the National Service for Agricultural and Food Safety and Health (SENASA), to establish the emergency actions that may be necessary for the combat or eradication of diseases of a quarantine nature, when there is suspicion or confirmation of their presence in the country. It shall act in the same manner when endemic or enzootic diseases acquire levels of incidence that constitute a threat to national productivity.

Whereas it corresponds to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG) to declare a state of alert or request from the Presidency of the Republic the declaration of a state of emergency. Likewise to request extraordinary budgetary appropriations, if necessary, to address the actions that may be required in the event of outbreaks of endemic or enzootic diseases, as well as in the event of entry or suspicion of introduction of exotic diseases.

Whereas it corresponds to SENASA, with the participation of the private sector, other public sector entities, international organizations and collaborating countries, to coordinate actions for the planning and development of programs and campaigns for the prevention, control and eradication of plant pests.

Whereas it corresponds to SENASA to establish the emergency actions that may be necessary for the combat and/or eradication of pests of a quarantine nature, when there is properly substantiated suspicion or confirmation of their presence in the country. It shall act in the same manner when endemic pests acquire levels of incidence that constitute a threat to national productivity as well as to prepare the technical and financial studies that may be necessary to support prevention, control or eradication programs and campaigns, which will make it possible to ensure their execution through the coordination of joint actions with producers, transporters, processors, exporters and the general public.

Whereas SENASA has planned to execute a plan of sanitary prevention measures to counteract any potential risk that may exist with the fundamental purpose of preventing the entry of such a dangerous disease, to protect Livestock, the Agricultural Sector and the National Economy.

Whereas in the Republics of Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua positive cases of the Screwworm (Cattle Grub) have been confirmed, which affects all species of warm-blooded animals including humans.