. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/COL/88 
13 August 2004 
 (04-3422) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures  Original:   Spanish  
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES 
 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   COLOMBIA
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible:   Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) 
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):   Bovine animals, sheep, swine and the products thereof  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:   
  Ecuador 
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:   Colombian Agricultural 
Institute (ICA) Resolution No. 01524 of 16 July 2004 Suspending the Importation from 
Ecuador of Bovine Animals, Sheep, Swine and Other Species Susceptible to Foot-and-
Mouth Disease (FMD) and the Risk Products Thereof  (2 pages, in Spanish). 
6. Description of content:   Suspension for a period of six (6) months of imports from 
Ecuador of bovine animals, sheep, swine and other species susceptible to foot-and-mouth 
disease (FMD) and the risk products thereof, during which time the ICA will assess the risk 
of the disease being introduced into Colombia by means of a review of updated official 
information on the status of the disease and in situ  verification by ICA officials. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [   ] food safety,  [ X ] animal health,  [   ] plant protection,   
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,  [   ]  protect territory from other damage from pests  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reasons for urgent action:    According to a report 
by the Ecuadorian Agricultural Health Serv ice (SESA) Coordinator in the Province of 
Imbabura, Ecuador, dated 5 July 2004, the ty pe O foot-and-mouth disease virus has been 
detected in this province and has a high risk of spreading amongst bovine animals, sheep, 
swine and other susceptible species located  on the Colombian-Ecuadorian border.  
9. International standard, gu ideline or recommendation:   
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission,  [ X ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE),  [   ] International Plant Protection Convention,  [   ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:   International Terrestrial Animal Health Code 
of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). 
10. Relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:   Law No. 395 of 1997 
(available in Spanish). G/SPS/N/COL/88 
Page 2  
 
 
11. Date of entry into force/period  of application (as applicable):   Upon publication in 
Official Journal No. 45.619 of 24 July 2004 / six (6) months. 
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [ X ] National notification 
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or  address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
National Enquiry Point  
Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo Dirección de Regulación Tel.: (571) 350-5500, Ext. 703 Fax: (571) 350-5211 
and 
Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario - ICA 
Grupo de Análisis de Riesgos Agropecuarios y Asuntos Internacionales  Calle 37 # 8-43, Oficina 409 Bogotá, D.C., Colombia 
Tel.: (571) 285-3485 
Fax: (571) 232-4695 Web site: http://www.ica.gov.co  
13. Texts available from:  [ X ] National noti fication authority, [ X ] National enquiry 
point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  
Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo 
Dirección de Regulación Calle 28 No. 13A - 15, primer piso  Bogotá, D.C., Colombia 
Enquiry Point
 
Contact person: Daniel Héctor Rico R. 
E-mail: danielrico@mincomercio.gov.co Tel.: (571) 350-5500, Ext.713 Fax: (571) 350-9564 Web site: http://www.mincomercio.gov.co