. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/GTM/10
28 August 2003
(03-4500)
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 should be provided in addition, where
applicable):  Chapters 1-15, 18-21, 23-24, 28-33, 35, 40-47, 50-53 and 67 of the
Harmonized System
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  
Trading partners of Guatemala
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Law on Plant Protection
and Animal Health (Decree No. 36-98) (14 pages)
6. Description of content:  The purpose is to ensure the protection of human health and to
preserve plants, animals, forest and hydrobiological species and the unprocessed products
and by-products thereof against the harmful effects of pests and diseases of economic and
quarantine significance, without prejudice to human health and the environment.
This law is enforceable throughout the territory of Guatemala, including the
exclusive economic zone, and is designed to establish the basis for the prevention,diagnosis, control and eradication of diseases and pests from animals, plants and forest and
hydrobiological species.  Its provisions are based on public order and social interest.
It is also specified that the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food shall be the
entity responsible for implementing the law and the regulations thereto, and that its
functions shall be discharged in accordance with the purposes of the law.
The section on plant protection includes provisions relating to phytosanitary
diagnosis, plant quarantine, control of inputs for agricultural use, inspection of exportproducts of vegetable origin, programmes, campaigns and schemes for the prevention,
suppression, control and eradication of pests, etc.  The section on animal health covers
zoosanitary measures, epidemiological surveillance, animal quarantine and registration of
products for animal use.
Other sections deal with the delegation of plant and animal health services, risk
analysis of pests and diseases, professiona l management, national and international
coordination, disciplinary measures, transitional provisions and derogations.G/SPS/N/GTM/10
Page 2
7. Objective and rationale: [     ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[ X ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  X ] protect territory from
other damage from pests:
The State has a fundamental duty to promote national economic development, by
encouraging agricultural, forestry and hydrobiological activities, and to adopt suchmeasures as may be necessary for the efficient and sustainable conservation, development
and exploitation of natural resources, without disregarding the globalization of the world
economy, for which purpose it is necessary to bring legislation on plant protection and
animal health into line with the international treaties and agreements accepted and ratified
by the Republic of Guatemala.
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:           
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Law on plant
protection and animal health (Decree No. 36-98).  Done at the Legislative Palace,
Guatemala City, on the sixth day of May ni neteen hundred and ninety-eight (Spanish).
10. Proposed date of adoption :  Guatemala, 8 August 1998 (published in the Official Journal)  
        
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  Guatemala, 16 August 1998
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
Strategic Policy and Information Unit, Information Department
5a Ave 8-06, zona 9
Tel:  (502) 361-7786, 334-1048
Fax:  (502) 361-7783
E-mail:  informacion.upie@maga.gob.gt
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food
Standards and Regulations Unit
Office of Standards and Procedures
7a Avenida 12-90, zona 13
Anexo Edificio Monja BlancaFax:  (502) 475-3058, (502) 457-3068, (502) 475-3074
E-mail:  correo@unr.com.gt