. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/GTM/15
29 August 2003
(03-4509)
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 may be provided in addition, where applicable):
Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the Harmonized System
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  Trading
partners of Guatemala
5. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Ministerial Decision No. 455-99 of
5 May 1999 Implementing Phytosanitary Measures for the Importation and International
Transit through Guatemala of Fresh Fruit, Ornamental Plants, Vegetables and ForestrySpecies from Countries of Origin or Provenance in which the Pink Hibiscus Mealy Bug,
Maconellicoccus hirsutus  (Green), is Present  (4 pages, in Spanish).
6. Description of content:  This Ministerial Decision establishes the phytosanitary
requirements for the authorization of import licences by the Standards and Regulations Unit
of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food and the technical measures to becomplied with when seeking to import the above products into the country, including
inspection and sampling of the plant products and by-products and the packing and
packaging materials, crates and means of transport thereof.
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
Given that the pink hibiscus mealy bug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus  (Green), is not present in
Guatemala and in view of the increased trade in plant products and by-products, there is a
need to implement measures preventing its introduction in order to protect the country's
agricultural heritage, especially since this pest has a wide range of host crops, including
export products and by-products, and its presence in the country  could result in the loss of
major export markets.
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:G/SPS/N/GTM/15
Page 2
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Ministerial Decision
No. 455-99 of 5 May 1999 (available in Spanish).
10. Proposed date of adoption:   Guatemala, 25 May 1999 (published in the Official Journal)
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  Guatemala, 26 May 1999
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) 475-3074E-mail: correo@unr.com.gt