International Regional Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA) celebrates 70th anniversary

Posted: Friday, October 27, 2023. 7:27 pm CST.

OIRSA Representative in Belize Fermín Blanco – Photo Credit: MAFSE

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The International Regional Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA) is this week celebrating its 70^th anniversary.

The actual date of the establishment of OIRSA is Sunday, October 29. However, the regional organization held a ceeremony to celebrate Regional Agricultural Health Day on Thursday evening.

In his address at the ceremony, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise Jose Abelardo Mai said that every day the agriculture sector faces challenges, and some of the most important challenges are those that threaten animal and plant health.

OIRSA represents a first line of defense for the agricultural sector against pests, according to OIRSA Representative in Belize, Fermín Blanco.

“OIRSA has been at the forefront of every threat to the sector, with regards to animal and plants, synergized by BAHA to try to reduce the threats, and to control and eradicate any disease of plants and animals” Minister Mai said recalling that when he started working at the Ministry of Agriculture, they were dealing with the screwworm eradication program. Thereafter there have been many threats.

“We can say that OIRSA in the region is exemplary when it comes to addressing the challenges of animal and plant diseases.”

Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai at OIRSA 70^th anniverrsary celebration. (Photo Crefit: MAFSE)

“Founded in 1953 by 9 countries, the organization helps protect borders from animal and plant pests and diseases,” the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise (MAFSE) said in a statement on social media.

OIRSA operates in Central America, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.

“Every year on that date it celebrates Regional Agricultural Health Day, where all its efforts are geared toward preventing, protecting and controlling pests of economic importance of its member countries and safeguarding food security,” Blanco said.

According to Blanco, Belize became a member of OIRSA 27 years ago in 1996.

The regional organization was established in 1953.

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