G/SPS/N/CRI/224  
27 January 2020  
(20-0631) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member: COSTA RICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible: Servicio Fitosanitario del Estado , Ministerio de Agricultura y 
Ganadería  (State Phytosanitary Service, 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 add ition, 
where applicable): HS code s 0602, 0709.60, 1209.91 and 0702.00  
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: Resolución 001 -2020-ARP-SFE (Resolution No. 001 -
2020-ARP-SFE) Language(s): Spanish  Number of pages:  7 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/CRI/20_0614_00_s.pdf  
6. Description of content: The notified Resolution provides for a phytosanitary measure 
to prevent the introduction of the Tomato brown rugose fruit virus ( Tobamovirus , 
ToBRFV), which is communicable through tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) and chilli 
pepper (Capsicum spp.) fruit and plants for planting (including seeds).  
7. Objective and rational e: [   ] food safety, [   ] animal health, [  X ] plant 
protection, [    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  X ] protect 
territory from other damage from pests.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reasons for urgent action: To date, the re has 
been no known presence of the Tomato brown rugose fruit virus ( Tobamovirus , ToBRFV) 
in Costa Rica and, based on information regarding the virus's presence in other countries, 
yield losses can range from 30% to 70%, exerting a significant economic im pact. Costa 
Rica imports most of the tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) and chilli pepper (Capsicum 
spp.) seed planted in the country . It also imports fresh fruit for consumption from 
countries in which the above -mentioned virus is reportedly present, which risks causing 
an epiphytotic situation leading to unacceptable economic losses for the country. 
Consequently, Costa Rica has decided to include the Tomato brown rugose fruit virus  
(ToBRFV) on the list of quarantine pests and establish phytosanitary measures ( in addition 
to the current phytosanitary measures governing importation) for imports  of Solanum 
lycopersicum  and Capsicum spp. plants for planting (including seeds) and fresh fruit for 
consumption, from any country.  
9. Is there a relevant international st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : G/SPS/N/CRI/224  
- 2 - 
  [ ] World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : 
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention ( e.g. ISPM 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:  
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  10 
January 2020  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [   ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and email address 
(if available) of other body:  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point . Address, fax numbe r 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  
Apartado postal 1521 - 1200 
San José, Costa Rica  
Tel.: (+506) 2549 3407  
Fax: (+506) 2549 3598  
Email: puntocontactoMSF@sfe.go.cr