. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/VEN/2
12 March 2003
(03-1398)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  Spanish
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  VENEZUELA
If applicable, name of local government involved:
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Agriculture and Land / Autonomous Agricultural Health
Service (SASA)
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):
Chapter I:   01.05:  01.05.11.00,  01.05.12.00, 01.05.19.00, 01.05.92.00, 01.05.93.00,
01.05.99.00; 01.06 : 01.06.00.10 / 01.06.00.20 / 01.06.00.90;
Chapter II:  02.07:  02.07.11.00, 02.07.12.00, 02.07.13.00, 02.07.14.00, 02.07.24.00,
02.07.25.00, 02.07.26.00, 02.07.27.00, 02.07.32.00, 02.07.33.00, 02.07.34.00, 02.07.35.00,
02.07.36.00; 02.08:  02.08.90.00;
Chapter IV:  04.07:  04.07.00.10, 04.07.00.90;
Live birds, BB chickens, slaughtered birds, fertile eggs and eggs for consumption and
poultry products and by-products.
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:
Countries where the species is found and where it is affected by avian influenza ("fowl
plague").
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Resolution on the
Importation of Live Birds, BB Chickens, Slaughtered Birds, Fertile Eggs and Eggs for
Consumption and Poultry Products and By-products.
6. Description of content:  This Resolution regulates the importation of live birds, BB
chickens, slaughtered birds, fertile eggs and eggs for consumption and poultry products and
by-products from countries where avian influenza has been detected.  Avian influenza is an
exotic disease in Venezuela and one of the worst disasters to befall the world poultry
industry, resulting in heavy losses for this productive sector.
Importation of the above products will be subject to authorization by the
Autonomous Agricultural Health Service (SAS A) of the Ministry of Agriculture and
Livestock, currently known as the Ministry of Agriculture and Land.
Furthermore, the importation of poultr y products and by-products will only be
authorized if they have undergone manufacturing processes which ensure suppression of theavian influenza virus by thermal means (56°C for 45 minutes), pH variation (levels of less
than 5 or more than 7) or drying.G/SPS/N/VEN/2
Page 2
6. Description of content:  (cont'd) Imports of live birds, BB chickens, slaughtered birds,
fertile eggs and eggs for consumption from countries free from avian influenza must be
accompanied by a certificate of origin issued by the competent authorities of the exporting
country; these authorities are also required to guarantee that specific pathogen-free (SPF)
eggs are free from this disease and from other pathogens.  Finally, the Resolution prohibitsthe importation and use throughout national territory of specific biologics against avian
influenza.
7. Objective and rationale: [     ] food safety,  [  X ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  X ] protect territory from
other damage from pests
8. International standard, guideline or recommendation:
[    ] Codex Alimentarius Commission,  [ X ] Office International des Epizooties,
[   ] International Plant Protection Convention,  [    ] 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:  Official Gazette of
the Republic of Venezuela No. 36,165, Resolution DM (Office of the Minister)/No. 074
(available in Spanish).
10. Proposed date of adoption:  12 March 1997
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  13 March 1997
12. Final date for comments:  Although the measure has already been adopted and entered into
force, comments will be accepted for 60 days fo llowing submission of the notification by the
Permanent Mission to the Central Registry of Notifications for subsequent amendments.
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [  X ] National notification
authority, [     ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:
Autonomous Agricultural Health Service (SASA),
Av. Lecuna, Torre Este, 12th floor, Parque Central, El Conde,
Caracas, Venezuela.
Tel.:  (58 212) 509-0140 / 509-0184 / 509-0315 / 509-0378
Fax:  (58 212) 509-0376E-mail:  mat_sasa@yahoo.es
13. Texts available from:  [  X ] National notification authority, [     ] National enquiry
point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
Autonomous Agricultural Health Service (SASA),
Av. Lecuna, Torre Este, 12th floor, Parque Central, El Conde,
Caracas, Venezuela.
Tel.:  (58 212) 509-0140 / 509-0184 / 509-0315 / 509-0378Fax:  (58 212) 509-0376
E-mail:  mat_sasa@yahoo.es