WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/295/Add.18
24 June 2002
(02-3477)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  Spanish
QUESTIONNAIRE ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Submission by Costa Rica
AddendumG/SPS/GEN/295/Add.18
Page 2Technical assistance requirements:  :
Information Training Infrastructure:
(Hard and/or Soft)Specific concern Other
Rights,
obligations andpractical
operations of
the SPS
Agreement:Political level
Technical level
• Introduction to the WTO
and the international
trading system
• Importance of the SPS
Agreement in international
trade
• Introduction to the work of
the CODEX and IPPC
• Importance of the
appropriate level of
sanitary protection, non-
discriminatory trade
measures, analysis ofsettlement dispute cases
relating to sanitary and
phytosanitary measures,
work of the standard-
setting bodiesCourses/Workshops
• Application of
provisions on
transparency
• Recognition of
equivalence and
regionalization
• Harmonization of
requirements
• Risk analysis
• Settlement dispute
procedures
• Analysis of
disputesSoft:
• Advice in the
establishment/revision
of national regulations
and their harmonizationwith international
norms and guidelines
Hard:
• Provision of consumer
education programmeswith regard to sanitary
and phytosanitary
measures.
Establishment of a
database for thenotification systemTo receive information
on the regulations
existing in Japan on the
access of Costa Ricanorganic productsOrganic farming
• Harmonization of
requirements
• Revision/adjustment
of our regulations andprocedures with
regard to organic
products so as to
facilitate their access
to world markets
Food safetyGood agricultural
practices for theproducer:
Systems of
accreditation and
certification of safe
productsRegulatory framework for
the production,processing, and marketing
of fresh fruits and
vegetables
Animal healthG/SPS/GEN/295/Add.18
Page 3Technical assistance requirements:  :
Information Training Infrastructure:
(Hard and/or Soft)Specific concern Other
Plant health 1. Risk analysis
2. Quarantine treatments• Systems of
phytosanitary
certification ofcountries with
which Costa Rica
trades
• Systems of
inspection,
quarantinetreatments,
epidemiological
surveillance, risk
evaluation
• Training of
technical expertsin pest
identification at
points of entrySoft:
• Control and monitoring
through GPS
• Modernization of the
plant quarantine
services
• Evaluation and
improvement of thegeneral and specific
procedures of the plant
quarantine services
Organization of the
quarantine procedures
Hard:
• Installations of
treatments
Installations for post-
quarantine centres,greenhouses, etc.
Contact details National Information Service:
Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería
Servicio de Protección Fitosanitaria del Estado
Centro de Información y Notificación Fitosanitaria y Zoosanitaria .
Apartado Postal 10094 – 1000
San José, Costa RicaTel :  (506) 260 83 00 (ext. 2090)
Fax:  (506) 260 83 01
E-mail:  notificaciones@protecnet.go.crG/SPS/GEN/295/Add.18
Page 4
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
(Such information could include, inter alia, a more detailed description of the technical assistance
required, any relevant background information on the reasons for the request, the possibility of using a
regional approach to the position of the requested assistance and the scope for a coordinated approach
among relevant international organizations.)
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