G/SPS/N/CRI/230  
6 April 2020  
(20-2742) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member : COSTA RICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible : Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal  (National Animal Health 
Service), Servicio Fitosanitario del Estado  (State Phytosanitary Service), Ministerio de 
Agricultura y Ganadería  (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock)  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO ; ICS numbers should be provided in a ddition, 
where applicable) : Live animals, products and by -products of animal origin, their 
derivatives and waste products, hazardous substances, animal feed and veterinary 
medicines, or biotechnological material of animal origin ; plants and plant products,  basic 
commodities, as well as other non -plant materials, where applicable . 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  
[X] All trading partners  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:  
5. Title of the notified document : Circular SENASA -SFE-R001-2020. Servicio Nacional de 
Salud Animal (SENASA) y el Servicio Fitosanitario del Estado (SFE) comunica 
readecuación en forma temporal de los procedimientos técnicos ordinarios de manera que 
estos no se tornen en un obstác ulo innecesario al comercio exterior y al abastecimiento 
nacional en momentos de crisis.  (Circular SENASA -SFE-R001-2020. The National Animal 
Health Service (SENASA) and the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) announce temporary 
adjustments to normal technica l procedures to ensure that they do not become an 
unnecessary obstacle to foreign trade and domestic supply in times of crisis.) 
Language(s) : Spanish Number of pages : 6 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/CRI/20_2456_00_s.pdf  
6. Description of content : The notified Circular authorizes officials from the Animal Health 
Service and the State Phytosanitary Service to review documents using copies of the 
original documents, which may be either printouts or simple photocopies, in order to avoid 
unduly  slowing d own trade flows during the COVID -19 international epidemiological 
emergency.  
7. Objective and rationale : [X] food safety, [X] animal health, [X] plant protection, 
[X] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [X] protect territory from 
other damag e from pests  
8. Is there a relevant international standard ? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : 
[ ] World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. T errestrial o r Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : G/SPS/N/CRI/230  
- 2 - 
  [ ] International Plant Protection Convention ( e.g. I SPM No. ): 
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes [ ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 16 March 2 020 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined  
11. Proposed date of entry into force : [ ] Six months from date of publication, and/or 
(dd/mm/yy ): Not applicable  
[X] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments : [ ]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or ( dd/mm/yy ): Not applicable  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments : [X] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point . Address, fax number and email address 
(if available) of other body:  
Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG)  
Servicio Fitosanitario del Estado (SFE)  
Centro de Información y Notificación en MSF  
P.O. Box No. 1521-1200 
San José, Costa Rica  
Tel.: (+506) 2549 3407  
Fax: (+506) 2549 3598  
Email: puntocontactoMSF@sfe.go.cr  
13. Text(s) available from : [ ] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point . Address, fax number and email address (if available) of other body:  
Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG)  
Servicio Fitosanitario del Estado (SFE)  
Centro de Información y Notificación en MSF  
P.O. Box No. 1521-1200 
San José, Costa Rica  
Tel.: (+506) 2549 3407  
Fax: (+506) 2549 3598  
Email: puntocontactoMSF@sfe.go.cr