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The South American Commission for the fight Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (COSALFA) was established in 1972 at the Fifth Inter-American Ministerial Meeting on Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Other Zoonoses
(RICAZ V).
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At the time, the Pan-American Center for Foot-and-Mouth Disease-PAHO/WHO was entrusted with the function of its Ex Officio Secretariat. In February 1973 the first COSALFA Meeting was held, which was succeeded by 37 Regular and two Special Meetings.
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COSALFA’s purpose is to assess the progress made by the national programs for foot-and-mouth disease control and eradication in South America, and recommend actions for these programs, thereby ensuring the regional integration of intervention actions.
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Until its 39th Regular Meeting, COSALFA’s membership consisted of 22 representatives from 11 South American countries: Argentina; Brasil; Bolivia; Chile; Colombia; Ecuador; Guyana; Paraguay; Perú; Venezuela y Uruguay.
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In 2012, the Republic of Panama joined COSALFA as a full member under COSALFA 39’s Resolution VII, adopted on 11 May.
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As of 2013 and of COSALFA 40, membership will consist of 24 representatives from 12 countries of the American Continent, as follows: one representative of the public sector – that is, of the official veterinary service of each country, and one representative of the private sector of each country – that is, someone connected with the highest national association of livestock producers.

In 2014, Suriname joined COSALFA as a full member under COSALFA 41’s Resolution IV, adopted on 11 April.
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COSALFA’s membership thus consists of representatives of the following 13 countries: Argentina; Brazil; Bolivia; Chile; Colombia; Ecuador; Guyana; Panama, Paraguay; Peru; Suriname, Venezuela, and Uruguay.
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At COSALFA meetings observers also participate, including representatives of the official veterinary services, livestock producers’ organizations, the animal products industry, the veterinary pharmaceutical industry, diagnostic laboratories, universities, research institutions, and national and international technical cooperation agencies, among others.