MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mecosur News

Argentina foot and mouth free.

The International Organization of Epizooties, (IOE), confirmed Argentina's free of foot and mouth disease status, after a sanitary delegation visited the country for a week to check the impact of the outbreak recently reported and measures taken to combat it. OIE with offices in Paris which is responsible for extending international certifications, granted Argentina this condition last May, an achievement the country was longing for over half a century. However Unites States, Canada and Mexico, Nafta members, have their own sanitary inspection currently visiting Argentina and won't take a decision until after returning to Noth America. Nafta has become Argentina's main beef client and suspended imports of fresh beef when the outbreak of foot and mouth disease was first reported. The outbreak apparently originated in Paraguay, and was introduced into Argentina and the south of Brazil with smuggled cattle. In the south of Brazil the epidemic is still not under control and authorities have so far applied the sanitary rifle to 8.500 head of cattle, sheep and pigs. Nevertheless Brazilian officials believe they have identified what they believe are the "crucial" areas and have set up a strict sanitary ring. Meantime Peru in the Pacific, has identified three areas with outbreaks of the foot and mouth A virus and has established strict quarantines. "We believe there are 14.000 head of cattle potentially vulnerable, and we will act with utmost determination", said Dr. Violeta Díaz head of the Peruvian Livestock Sanitary Department. "This is a terrible blow for us since we're working to eradicate the disease and obtain international certification", added Dr. Violeta Díaz.

Money laundering

Mercosur's four full members agreed in Brasilia to coordinate Central Banks actions and procedures to prevent financial institutions from involving in money laundering. After a three days meeting in Brazil during the last week of September, the spokesperson for the task group, Ambassador Elbio Rosselli said that the agreement contemplates three main fields of action, police, Justice and Central banks. According to the agreement Central Banks wil