. /. WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/TBT/N/CRI/7 
4 June 2004  
 
(04-2405) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  Spanish 
  
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   REPUBLIC OF COSTA RICA 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):     
2. Agency responsible:    
Ministry of the Economy, Industry and Trade (MEIC) 
Technical Regulation Body 
Tel.: (506) 297-1439 and 235-2700, ext. 265 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, E-mail and Web site 
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be  indicated if different from above:    
TBT Enquiry Point 
Ministry of the Economy, Industry and Trade (MEIC) 
P.O. Box 10216-1000 Tel.: (506) 297-1439 Fax: (506) 297-1439 E-mail: crotc@meic.go.cr 
Web site: www.meic.go.cr  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:     
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where app licable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   HS tariff item 
No. 2009.90.00.92 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Costa Rican 
Technical Regulation RTCR:    2004, Fresh Blackberries for Consumption  (12 pages, in 
Spanish) 
6. Description of content:   This Technical Regulation defines the quality, safety, packaging 
and labelling requirements for fresh domestic  and imported blackberries of the varieties 
(cultivars) of Rubus sp. for consumption in Costa Rica.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
 Protection of human health and safety and of animal and plant life and health and 
prevention of consumer deception. G/TBT/N/CRI/7 
Page 2  
 
 
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
Angel Castro Moreno and María del Mila gro Cerdas (agricultural engineers), 
"Caracterización de las Variedades de Mora ( Rubus sp.) Más Representativas" 
(Characterization of the most representative varieties of blackberry ( Rubus sp.)), National 
Production Council (CNP), Agricultural Qu ality Control Department, May 2001; 
Colombian Technical Standard (NTC) No. 410 6, "Mora de Castilla" (Andean blackberry), 
Specifications, Colombian Technical Standards Institute (ICONTEC), 1997; 
"United States Standards for Grades of Dewberries and Blackberries",  United States 
Department of Agriculture, 13 February 1928; 
"UN/ECE Standard FFV-35 Concerning the Ma rketing and Commercial Quality Control of 
Strawberries", United Nations, Geneva, 1995; 
Perkins-Veazie, P., Clark, J.R., Huber, D.J., and Baldwin, E.A.,  "Ripening Physiology in 
“Navaho” Thornless Blackberries: Color, Respir ation, Ethylene Production, Softening and 
Compositional Changes", J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sct. 125(3): 357-363 , 2000; 
Ana Lorena Alvarado V., "Blackberry ( Rubus sp.)", National Production Council (CNP), 
Agro-industrial and Marketing De partment, 19 June 2002;   
Executive Decree No. 24907-MEIC NCR 230:1995, "Productos Hortícolas Frescos. 
Muestreo" (Fresh horticultural products. Samp ling), published in the Official Journal, La 
Gaceta , No. 25 of 5 February 1996;  
Executive Decree No. 26012-MEIC RTCR 100:1997, "Etiquetado de los Alimentos 
Preenvasados" (Labelling of pre-packaged foods), published in La Gaceta No. 91 of 
14 May 1997, and the revised version thereof; 
Geovanny Carmona Villal obos, "Rol de la Temperatura en el Almacenamiento de Productos 
Frescos" (The role of temperature in the storage of fresh products), National Production Council (CNP), December 2001.  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  Upon publication in the Official Journal, 
La Gaceta   
10. Final date for comments:   60 days as of the date of notification. 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and E-mail and Web site addresses,  if available, of the other body:   
Centro de Información de Obstáculos Técnicos al Comercio 
Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Comercio - MEIC  
Apartado Postal 10216-1000 
Tel.: (506) 297-1439 Fax: (506) 297-1439  E-mail: crotc@meic.go.cr  
Web site: www.meic.go.cr