The General Audit’s Office (AGN, for its acronym in Spanish) evaluated the Sub National Executing Unit of MERCOSUR Free Hoof-And-Mouth Disease Program (SUE-PAMA, for its acronym in Spanish) and noted that the regional section sent 38% less money than required and, in parallel, the Government through the National Health Service and Food Quality also known as SENASA, disbursed 32% more.

The watchdog reported that "according to the initial programming" the sub-regional section should send SUE $ 2.2 million to help in the fight against HMD in the country, but when the audit finished, disbursements amounted to nearly 1.4 million.

These were some of the comments made by the AGN on the management of the execution unit in which Argentina participates with Bolivia and Chile. The objective of the audit was to know "what was the contribution of the project to eradicate the disease in the Southern Cone and whether controls ensure the regularity of the plan."

The AGN emphasized that "the contribution of the MERCOSUR Plan, which acts as a complement to national plans to combat HMD-represents 0.3%" of SENASA’s budget. They even ensured that "most of the added value came from having formalized the problem."

Meanwhile, the AGN said that of the payments Hoof-And-Mouth Disease Free Plan made to SUE, "the second was made 303 days late in relation to the schedule, the third after 340 days (almost a year late), the fourth with 272 days, and the fifth 402-days-overdue".

Another observation was that "the unit of SENASA running the program does not perform management reports or generate indicators, thus damaging the monitoring and control of PAMA."

What is HMD?

It is an epidemic disease caused by a virus that affects bovine animals, sheep, pigs, and goats. It is highly contagious, rapidly spreading, and manifests with fever as well as small ulcers in the mouth called thrush. By March 2011, the animals suffering from this disease amounted to 70,212,209, of which 68% were cattle. Currently, "the sanitary condition of the country is free from disease", but it is divided into two: the southern Patagonia and the northern part of what is currently "without vaccination" and the north-central border area that are free of the disease but require vaccines.

Control and Eradication Situation in Argentina

As detailed in the report of the AGN approved during 2012, "the results of the different control and eradication plans were mixed" because "in 1997 Argentina gained the status of Country Free of HMD" but "in the mid-2000s saw the reappearance of the virus that caused an epidemic in much of the country until early 2002. In 2003 some cases were detected in Tartagal (Salta)" and in 2009 "in San Luis del Palmar (Corrientes)". The audit’s investigation pointed out that “this was the last disease recorded."

According to the watchdog, "one of the consequences of each of the arising of the disease was the closure of markets in the country." To take dimension of the importance of the livestock sector the AGN noted that "in 2010 the activity and its derivatives brought to Argentina 4.162 million dollars in exports, 6.11% of total sales." Meanwhile, when the Audit visited in March of this year, the offices of SENASA in Chaco and Formosa, local producers showed a "63% agree with the actions being carried out" in the field, "76%" think that the situation has improved since the last outbreak. "However, "46% do not know PAMA.