. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/HND/5 
22 January 2004 
 (04-0205) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG)   
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):  Live ruminants, fresh, chilled, frozen , canned meat (ruminants);  sausages 
(ruminants);  luncheon meat (ruminants);  vi scera for human consumption and for industrial 
use (ruminants);  hydrolyzed, concentrated protein and protein for laboratory use 
(ruminants);  glands, processed or for processing (ruminants);  dried bile (ruminants);  hoof 
and horn meal (ruminants);  fish meal*, poul try meal*, feather meal*;  blood meal (all 
species);  animal feed additives (ruminants);  milk substitute for calves (ruminants);  fat-
based preparations (all species);  blood and bl ood by-products* (ruminants);  foetal bovine 
serum;  biological products (vaccines) and exci pients*;  inactivated antigen kits for 
diagnosis*;  enzymes, hormones and excipients*;   amniotic liquid extracts* (ruminants);  
processed placenta (all species);  intestinal serous membrane (all species);  hydrolyzed bone 
(all species);  pet food*;  ba lanced pig and cattle feeds*.  
* Request for official certification from the co mpetent authority that the product was not 
processed using ruminant protein (only in the cases specified).   
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  United 
States of America  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  The Ministry of 
Agriculture and Livestock has issued a 3 page  document, in Spanish, in accordance with 
Decision No. 968-2003, of 29 December 2003 on  Bovine and Spongiform Encephalopathy 
(BSE), or "Mad Cow Disease".  
6. Description of content:  In order to prevent the introduction of Bovine Spongiform 
Encephalopathy (BSE) into the Republic of  Honduras, the importation of the above-
mentioned products from the United States is prohibited.   
7. Objective and rationale:  [  X ] food safety,  [  X ] animal health,  [    ] plant protection,
[ X ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,  [   ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests       
1. Temporary ban on imports from the United States of America.  
2. Maintenance of the ban on the use and in clusion of ruminant meat and bone meal 
for the processing of ruminant feeds and strengthening of the compliance 
verification process .  
3. Encouragement of compulsory notification, by stock breeders and other persons 
having charge of animals, of all cases of disease involving neurological symptoms 
in ruminants (cattle, goats and sheep).  G/SPS/N/HND/5 
Page 2  
 
4. Non-compliance with the terms of this Decision shall give rise to a penalty for 
serious negligence in accordance with the provisions of the Regulations on 
Epidemiological Monitoring of Animal Health (Decision No. 1419-00).   
5. This Decision shall enter into force with  immediate effect and shall be published in 
the Official Journal "La Gaceta".  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reasons for urgent action:  Prevention of the 
introduction into the Republic of Honduras of  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).  
9. 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:        
10. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Decision No. 968-
2003, issued on 29 December 2003, a 3 page document, in Spanish.  
11. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  Immediate entry into 
force on 29 December 2003.  
12. 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:   
Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock  
Blvd. Centro America, Ave. La FAO, Republic of Honduras  Tel:  (504) 231 0786 Fax:  (504) 239 11 44  
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 and Livestock  
National Agricultural Health Service (SENASA)  
Tel:  (504) 231 0786 Fax:  (504) 239 1144  www.sag.gob.hn