Guatemala hosts CIRSA to strengthen livestock health and secure regional trade
February 19, 2026/ Department of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food, and the International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA)/ Guatemala.
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To safeguard food production and coordinate the response to health risks, the Annual Ordinary Meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Regional Committee for Agricultural Health (CIRSA) was inaugurated in Guatemala on February 19.
The meeting brought together deputy ministers and delegates from the agriculture and livestock sectors of the nine member countries: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic. The technical agenda focused on strengthening prevention, control, and the coordination of joint early detection mechanisms.
During the sessions, authorities analyzed strategic approaches for the region, including:
- Epidemiological Surveillance: Strengthening monitoring systems to address cross-border threats.
- Project Management: Evaluation of the report from the Executive Directorate of OIRSA and new cooperation initiatives.
- Health Resilience: Coordinated response to climate events that impact agricultural production.
Dr. Mayra Motta, Deputy Minister of Agricultural Health and Regulations at MAGA Guatemala, welcomed the delegations and emphasized the importance of OIRSA's support in the region. Motta noted that this forum allows the consolidation of a technical roadmap that will be presented at the regional ministerial meeting scheduled for March 2026.
Dr. Victoriano Pascual, Chief Agriculture Officer of Belize, officially inaugurated the Commission's work, urging nations to maintain ongoing coordination to protect the region's agricultural heritage.