RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/ACC/MOL/17/Rev.1
27 November 2000
(00-5066)
Working Party on the
Accession of MoldovaOriginal:  English
ACCESSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA
Information on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
Revision
The Ministry of the Economy and Reforms of the Republic of Moldova has submitted the
following revised information on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures1.
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1 New text is indicated in bold, deleted text in strike-through.WT/ACC/MOL/17/Rev.1
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Information on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
1. The description of relevant laws and regulations, administrative orders etc, relating to
the implementation and administration of the SPS Agreement of the WTO.
The Government of the Republic of Moldova herewith submits information on the status of
Moldova’s legislation and regulations and its institutional infrastructure in the field of sanitary and
phytosanitary measures.
Hereafter is presented the legal and institutional framework regarding SPS regulation in the
Republic of Moldova and measures undertak en to meet WTO provision, as follows:
i. SPS measures concerning phytosanitary protection;
ii. SPS measures regarding veterinary activity;
iii. SPS measures concerning sanitary-epidemiological protection.
A. SPS MEASURES CONCERNING PHYTOSANITARY PROTECTION
1. Legal and institutional framework
The Law No. 506-XIII of 22 June 1995 “On Phytosanitary Quarantine” (a translated copy is
available will be provided  - document WT/ACC/MOL/23/Rev.1 refers ) establishes the State
Phytosanitary Quarantine Service as the body specially enabled in the field of phytosanitary
quarantine which is constituted by the State Main Inspectorate for Phytosanitary Quarantine and
district, municipal and border phytosanitary quarantine inspection and fumigation teams.  The Law
No. 1156 – XIV of 26 July 2000 “On amending and completing the Law on phytosanitary
quarantine” was adopted in order to improve the existing law.
Article 5 of the Law enables the Phytosanitary Service to approve rules and instructions
regarding phytosanitary quarantine, to approve the list of phytosanitary quarantine objects, to perform
phytosanitary quarantine control and laboratory expertise, etc.
Article 6 lists the objects of concern as regards phytosanitary quarantine concern : seeds and
seedling material, planting material, live mushrooms, bacteria, viruses, agricultural products ,
vehicles, transportation means, storing spaces, etc.
The Law also establishes the procedure for setting up and removing the  a phytosanitary
quarantine.
The Governmental Decision No. 697 of 10 October establishing the Statute of the State
Phytosanitary Quarantine Service (a translated copy is available will be provided  – document
WT/ACC/MOL/23/Rev.1 refers ) foresees a more comprehensive list of items subject to
phytosanitary quarantine, stipulates in more detail the obligations and rights of the PhytosanitaryQuarantine Service and establishes the importation, exportation and transition
 regulations concerning
phytosanitary quarantine control.
Governmental Decision No. 1154 of 15 December  “On improvement of the activity of the
control services at the border” (a translated copy is available will be provided  – document
WT/ACC/MOL/23/Rev.1 refers ) was enacted to increase the efficiency of the control activity of all
services at the border. It stipulates that starting on 1 January 1998, the sanitary-quarantine, veterinary,
phytosanitary and ecological services, located within border control zones, will be subject to direct
control and will certify within th eir competence only imported goods.WT/ACC/MOL/17/Rev.1
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Another important document regulating phytosanitary quarantine activity is “The Rules on the
protection of the territory of the Republic of Moldova against the entry or introduction from other
countries of quarantine pests, pathogenic agents of plant diseases and weeds” (a translated copy is
available of the Rules is provided  – document WT/ACC/MOL/23/Rev.1 refers ). The Rules were
issued by the Phytosanitary State Inspectorate and establishes  the objects of the  phytosanitary
quarantine; identify items forbidden for import, and items allowed for import; stipulates  regulations
concerning usage of the imported seeds and seedling material; establishes  the rules for exportation of
exporting fresh fruits, grapes, vegetables and seedling material, establishes  special regulations for
prevention of the spread of potatoes quarantine objects; sets  regulations for importation and use usage
of fresh citrus fruits ; and establish regulations concerning the transportation of products subject to
phytosanitary quarantine.
The Main Inspectorate issues other specific phytosanitary regulations, instructions and
standards that are approved by the Chief of the Inspectorate. District or municipal phytosanitary
inspection entities cannot issue phytosanitary regulations, they can only make proposals on enacting
new regulations. Moldova recognizes and applies international phytosanitary standards orrecommendations issued by the European Plant Protection Organization. Currently, Moldova is
making considerable efforts to become a full member of this organization.
2. Measures undertaken in order to comply with the
 WTO provisions
The Main Phytosanitary State Inspectorate elaborated a Draft Governmental Decision
amending the  Annex 1 of Governmental Decision 697 has been amended by Governmental
Decision No. 408 of 27 April 2000 through a Supplement (a translated draft copy is provided) that
was added to the Annex 1 of the Governmental Decision 697  (establishing the Statute of the State
Phytosanitary Service – document WT/ACC/MOL/31 refers) . This measure is designed to bring
Moldova into conformity with WTO rules and is described in detail in the Checklist of SPS
Requirements. The Supplement implements the provisions of the WTO SPS Agreement as is
indicated in  the SPS Checklist (document WT/ACC/MOL/20).
B. MEASURES REGARDING VETERINARY ACTIVITY
1. Legal and institutional framework
The main regulatory document of the veterinary activity is the Law No. 1539-XII of
22 June 1993 “On veterinary activity” (a translated copy is available will be provided  – document
WT/ACC/MOL/23/Rev.1 refers ). The Law defines under Article 4 the Veterinary Service as being a
system of unified veterinary institutions, organizations,  enterprises, cooperatives and smallenterprises with a veterinary orientation, as well as veterinary specialists, realizing a set of special
measures for the prevention of diseases and treatment of animals, the sanitary-veterinary expertise of
products and raw material of animal and vegetal origin and establishes its area of competence. The
Ministry of Agriculture establishes the structure of the State Veterinary Service in accordance with
the necessity of formation of veterinary institutions, taking into consideration the territorial-administrative division of the Republic, and the distribution of animals. The central body of the State
veterinary service is the Direction of Veterinary Medicine with the State Veterinary Inspectorate
subjected to the Ministry of Agriculture and Processing Industry. The Law lays out the requirements
to obtain the right to exert veterinary activity. A ccording to the Law foreign citizens are allowed to
exert veterinary activity after they pass a special test. The Law also establishes the obligations and
responsibilities of specialists providing veterinary activity. The Law stipulates the obligation of the
animal owners and actions that the Veterinary Service is entitled to undertake in cases of depicting
diseases and zooanthroponoses.WT/ACC/MOL/17/Rev.1
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The Statute of the State Veterinary Service was enacted through the Governmental Decision
No. 378 of 22 June 1993 “On Adoption of the Veterinary Statute of the Republic of Moldova” (a
translated copy will be provided). The Statute describes in a more comprehensive manner the
Veterinary Service, establishes the obligations of the veterinary specialists, animal owners, enterprises
producing, processing, storing, transporting and marketing animal and animal  products, fodder and
preparations of veterinary usage. The Statute also gives instructions on establishment and removal of
the quarantine in cases of animal infectious illnes ses, regulates the sanitary-veterinary survey of the
processing, traffic and marketing, of animals, products and raw materials of animal origin.
The State Veterinary Inspectorate in entitled to issue specific veterinary measures which are
approved by the Chief of the Veterinary Inspectorate. Moldova also applies recommendations or
guidelines contained in the International Code of Epizootics, elaborated by the International Office ofEpizootics. Moldova has become a member of this organization in 1994.
Measures undertaken in order to comply with the WTO provisionsAs stated in the SPS Checklist (document WT/ACC/MOL/20) a Supplement is being drafted
and will be added to the Amendments are being introduced to Governmental Governmental
Decision No. 378 of 22 June 1993 “On Adoption of  the Veterinary Statute of the Republic of
Moldova” and the Law No. 1539-XII of 22 June 1993 “On Veterinary Activity”.  The
amendments will bring both documents into  full compliance with WTO requirements .  This
supplement will be fully analogous to the draft Supplement on phytosanitary measures, and will bring
Decision 378 into compliance with WTO.
C. SPS MEASURES CONCERNING SANITARY-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROTECTION.
1. Legal and institutional framework
The Law “On Sanitary-Epidemiologi cal Protection of the Population” No. 1513-XII of 16
June 1993 (a translated copy is available will be provided ) was enacted in 1993 and sets the
background for the sanitary-epidemiological protection activity in the Republic of Moldova. The Law
establishes the rights and obligations of natural and juridical persons  legal entities as regarding the
insurance of sanitary-epidemiological protection; provides the general sanitary epidemiologicalrequirements with regard to building activity, domestic production, processing technologies, raw
materials, food products
, imported products, the maintenance of spaces and territories, the quality of
potable water, etc.
The Law also establishes the State Sanitary-Epidemic Services which  that constitute a
uniform system of hierarchically organized bodies and establishments headed by the Ministry of
Health.
The State Sanitary-Epidemic Service includes the Scientific-Practical National Centre of
Preventive Medicine which made up of:
- Main sanitary - epidemic administration of the Ministry of Health;
- The Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Research Institute of
Prophylactic and Clinical Medicine;
- Republican Centre of Hygiene and Epidemiology;
- Republican Centre of Prophylaxis and AIDS Control;
- Republican Centre of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Transport, regional and urban
centres of hygiene and epidemiology, other sanitary-prophylactic establishments, andWT/ACC/MOL/17/Rev.1
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district and municipal centres of hygiene and epidemiology and other institutions of
preventive medicine.
The National Committee Codex Alimentarius was formed and approved by
Governmental Decision No. 866 of 21 September 1999.  According to Governmental Decision No.
816 of 12 December 1995 (a translated copy is available – document WT/ACC/MOL/31 refers),
“On the Rules on Sanitary-Epidemiological State Supervision in the Republic of Moldova” (to be
translated). According to this Governmental Decision,  the sanitary-epidemiological protection of the
population is undertaken by the State Sanitary-Epide miological Service of the Ministry of Health
which includes the National Scientific-Practical Centre of Preventive Medicine, district and municipal
centres of hygiene and epidemiology  and other institution of preventive medicine.
The Decision establish the obligations of th e State Sanitary-Epidemiological Service:
- to organize scientific researches in th e field of hygiene, epidemiology, health
protection;
- to find out the environmental factors of negative influence on human health;
- to elaborate normative acts in the field of epidemiological protection;
- to supervise the fulfilment of the national programs of sanitary-epidemiological
protection;
- to elaborate and to enforce sanitary-hygienic regulations and supervise their
fulfilment;
- to authorize the use of chemical preparations, etc new technologies for food
production, packing, additives .
- Article 10 stipulates that natural and juridical persons  entities that are culpable for
apparition of illnesses shall compensate the costs for their removal to the sanitary-
epidemiological institutions ;
- Moldova also applies sanitary-epidemiological measures issued by the World Health
Organization.
Measures undertaken in order to comply with the WTO provisions
As stated in the SPS Checklist (document WT/ACC/MOL/20) a Supplement is being drafted
and will be added to  The Governmental Decision No. 423 of 3 May 2000 (document
WT/ACC/MOL/31 refers) 816 of December 1995  “On Approval of the Rules on Sanitary-
Epidemiological State Supervision in the Republic of Moldova” replaces Governmental Decision
No. 816 of 12 December 1995 and was adopted in ord er to bring it into fu ll compliance with the
SPS Agreement . This supplement will be fully analogous to the draft Supplement on phytosanitary
measures, and will bring Decision 816 into compliance with the WTO.
2. Information regarding:
(a) Names of publications, of any, on work relating to SPS measures:
(i) “Monitorul Oficial” publishes information, instruction on SPS measures.
(b) the name and address of the inquiry point(s) foreseen Annex B, Articles 3 and 4 of the WTO
Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (the Agreement) with and indication as to whether
it is/they are fully operational;
The inquiry point created within the Department of Standards, Metrology and Technical
Supervision (DSMTS), is named Information Centre of Standardization and Certification. This Centre
is also the inquiry point for SPS measures.WT/ACC/MOL/17/Rev.1
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The official address is:
28, E. Coca St.
Chisinau, MD-2039Phone: (373-2) 75 04 60 int. 219
Fax: (373-2 ) 75 05 81
E-mail: standart@standart.mldnet.com
Contact person: Pavel CHEPTENE
Currently the database of the inquiry point is being elaborated and it is expected to be fully
operational by the day of accession.
(c) The name and address of the agency dealing with consultations as foreseen in Article 11 of
the Agreement;
(i) Phytosanitary measures
State Main Inspectorate for
Phytosanitary Quarantine
Street: Ialoveni, 100B, 2070
Chisinau,Republic of Moldova
Phone: (+373 2) 72 71 55
(ii) Veterinary measures
Ministry of Agriculture and
Processing Industry
Street: Stefan cel Mare, 162, 2012
Chisinau,
Republic of Moldova
Phone: (+373 2) 24 80 90
(iii) Sanitary measures
Ministry of Health
Street: V.Alexandri 1, 2009
Chisinau,Republic of Moldova
Phone: (+373 2) 72 96 18
Fax:     (+373 2) 73 87 81
(d) The name and address of agencies that are dealing with other specific functions foreseen in
the Agreement;
(i) Phytosanitary measures
State Main Inspectorate for
Phytosanitary Quarantine
Street: Ialoveni, 100B, 2070
Chisinau,WT/ACC/MOL/17/Rev.1
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Republic of Moldova
Phone: (+373 2) 72 71 55
(ii) Veterinary measures
Ministry of Agriculture and
Processing Industry
Street: Stefan cel Mare, 162, 2012
Chisinau,
Republic of Moldova
Phone: (+373 2) 24 80 90
(iii) Sanitary measures
Ministry of Health
Street: V.Alexandri 1, 2009
Chisinau,Republic of Moldova
Phone: (+373 2) 72 96 18
Fax:     (+373 2) 73 87 81
National Committee Codex Alimentarius
Street:  Gh. Asachi 67, A, 2028
Chisinau,
Republic of Moldova
Phone (+373 2) 73 58 22
Fax: (+373 2) 72 97 25e-mail: nopopol@mednet.md
(e) Measures and arrangements to ensure that national and sub-national authorities preparing new
SPS regulations or substantial amendments to existing ones, provide early information on
their proposals.
Principles applied concerning early publication are laid out in Article 4, paragraph (i) of the
Supplement, which says:  are laid out in Annex 1 of Governmental Decision No. 408 of
27 April 2000 and Governmental Decision No . 423 of 3 May 2000 (document WT/ACC/MOL/31
refers).
The Main State Phytosanitary Inspectorate:
will notify the other members, through the WTO Secretariat, of products, intended to be
regulated, together with a short description of the objective and motivation for the proposed
regulation. Such notifications are to be done during an early stage, when it is still possible to
introduce amendments, and when it is still possible to take into account comments.
An identical provision will be included in the draft Supplements being prepared to Decisions
378 and 816.
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