. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/GTM/14
28 August 2003
(03-4502)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  Spanish
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  GUATEMALA
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where
applicable):  Certified seeds, plant parts and citrus plants
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:
Trading partners of Guatemala
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Ministerial Decision
No. 713-2002 of 3 May 2002,  Establishing the Requirements for the Production,
Certification, Importation, Exportation and Marketing of Certified Seeds, Plant Parts andCitrus Plants  (14 pages, in Spanish).
6. Description of content:  Compliance with  this Ministerial Decision is mandatory for all
natural and legal persons engaged in the production, import, export and marketing of
certified seeds, plant parts and citrus plants within Guatemalan territory.
This Decision includes provisions on the registration and authorization of natural
and legal persons and the establishment of technical standards and general and specific
methods and procedures governing the production and certification  of seeds, plant parts and
citrus plants of all species, in particular by the Standards and Regulations Unit.
It also provides for the authorization of services supplied by natural and legal
persons related to the performance of one or more tasks within the certification process at
the time and on the conditions specified by the Standards and Regulations Unit.  This Unit
reserves the right to monitor and audit the authorized services with a view to ensuring both
service and product quality.
This Decision covers the types of seed requiring certification; the gene register;
identification of the origin of seeds, plant parts and citrus plants; identification of material
produced both in and outside nurseries; sampling intensity when checking pest and disease
assessment inspections and confirming varietal identity; requirements with regard to
germplasm banks, protected foundation blocks, protected propagation nurseries and
multiplication nurseries; labels, tags and/or customs seals; customs clearance; importation;exportation; the nursery register; fees for services; transition periods; disputes; and entry
into force.G/SPS/N/GTM/14
Page 2
7. Objective and rationale: [     ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [  X ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  X ] protect territory from
other damage from pests
Establish requirements for the production, certification, import, export and
marketing of certified seeds, plant parts and citrus plants with a view to promotingcitriculture - given its economic importance in Guatemala's agricultural diversification - by
ensuring both the production of quality certified seeds, plant parts and citrus plants which
guarantee high and profitable productive potential and technological innovation.  Guatemala
currently lacks certified sources to prevent the spread of viral diseases, which is the main
factor responsible for adversely affecting the quality of the physical, physiological,
phytosanitary and genetic components of such products.
8. International standard, guideline or recommendation:
[    ] Codex Alimentarius Commission,  [    ] Office International des Epizooties,
[    ] International Plant Protection Convention,  [ X ] None
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:           
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Ministerial Decision
No. 713-2002 of 3 May 2002  (available in Spanish).
10. Proposed date of adoption:  Guatemala, 13 May 2002  (published in the Official Journal)
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  Guatemala, 13 May 2002
12. Final date for comments:  Not applicable
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [     ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:           
13. Texts available from:  [     ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry
point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food
Standards and Regulations Unit
Office of Standards and Procedures
7ª Avenida 12-90, Zona 13, Anexo Edificio Monja Blanca, Guatemala City
Tel./Fax:  (502) 475-3058, (502) 475-3068, (502) 475-3074.
E-mail:  correo@unr.com.gt