. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/COL/77 
11 March 2004 
 (04-1069) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures  Original:  Spanish  
   
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   COLOMBIA
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible:  Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Bovine animals, sheep, swine and othe r susceptible species and the products 
and by-products thereof that pose a risk of transmitting foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  
 Venezuela 
5. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Colombian Agricultural Institute 
(ICA) Resolution No. 00353 of 26 February 2004 Extending the Period of the Suspension of Imports from Venezuela of Bovine Animals, Sheep, Swine and Other Susceptible Species and the Products Thereof that Pose a Risk of Transmitting Foot-and-Mouth 
Disease, as previously extended by means of Resolution No.  3015 of 29 October 2003 
(1 page, in Spanish). 
6. Description of content:  Suspension for a period of four (4) calendar months as of 
29 February 2004 of imports from Venezuela of  bovine animals, sheep, swine and other 
susceptible species and the products thereof th at pose a risk of transmitting FMD, during 
which time the ICA will assess the risk of th e disease being introduced into Colombia by 
means of a review of updated official in formation on the epidemiological situation 
provided by the Venezuelan Autonomous Ag ricultural Health Service (SASA) and in situ  
verification by ICA officials.   
7. Objective and rationale:  [    ] food safety,  [ X ] animal health,  [   ] plant protection,  
[ X ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,  [   ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reasons for urgent action:  Venezuela continues to 
experience outbreaks of vesicular disease clos e to its border with Colombia, a situation 
which puts Colombia's health status at risk. 
9. International standard, gu ideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission,  [ X  ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE),  [   ] International Plant Protection Convention,  [  ] None 
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:  G/SPS/N/COL/77 
Page 2  
 
10. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:  Colombian 
Agricultural Institute (ICA) Resolution No . 3015 of 29 October 2003 and Andean 
Community Resolution No. 447 of 1997  (available in Spanish). 
11. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):   Upon publication in the 
Official Journal / four (4) calendar months. 
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [ X ] National notification 
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or addr ess, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:  
 National enquiry point  
 E-mail: javiermi@mincomercio.gov.co  
 Tel.: (571) 350-5500, Ext. 703  Fax: (571) 350-5211 
 and 
 Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario 
 Grupo de Análisis de Riesgos Agropecu arios y Asuntos Internacionales - ICA 
 Calle 37 # 8-43, Oficina 409  Bogotá, D.C., Colombia 
 Tel.: (571) 285-3485 
 Fax: (571) 232-4695  Web site: http://www.ica.gov.co
 
13. Texts available from:  [ X ] National notification authority, [ X ] National enquiry 
point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: 
 Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo 
 Dirección de Regulación  Calle 28 No.13A - 15, primer piso   Bogotá, D.C., Colombia  E-mail: danielrico@mincomercio.gov.co
 (Enquiry point) 
 jcrondon@mincomercio.gov.co  
 Tel.:   (571) 350-5500, Ext.713  Fax:   (571) 350-9564  Web site: http://www.mincomercio.gov.co