G/SPS/N/CRI/238  
25 May 2021 
(21-4315) 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 addition, 
where applicable) : Fresh avocad os (Persea americana ) for consumption  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries : Honduras  
5. Title of the notified document : Resolución No 024 -2021-NR-ARP-SFE. Servicio 
Fitosanitario del Estado, Departamento de Normas y Regulaciones, Unidad de Análisis de 
Riesgo de Plagas . Establece medidas provisionales de urgencia para mitigar el riesgo de 
Avocado Sunblotch Viroid (ASBVD) en frutos frescos de aguaca te (Persea americana), 
para consumo, originarios de Honduras  (Resolution No. 024-2021-NR-ARP-SFE of the 
State Phytosanitary Service, Standards and Regulations Department, Pest Risk Analysis 
Unit, establishing temporary emergency measures to mitigate the ri sk of Avocado 
sunblotch viroid (ASBVd) in fresh avocados ( Persea americana ) for consumption 
originating in Honduras) Language(s) : Spanish Number of pages : 8 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/CRI/21_3629_00_s.pdf  
6. Description of content : The notified Resolution establishes temporary emergency 
measures to mitigate the risk of Avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd) in fresh avocados 
(Persea americana ) for consumption originating in Honduras.  
7. Objective and rationale : [ ] 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 : On 10 July 2 017, 
the Pest Risk Analysis Unit of the State Phytosanitary Service's (SFE ) Standards and 
Regulations Department, by means of report ARP-006-2016, issued the pest risk analysis 
for the pest Avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd), recommending risk mitigation measures 
for the importation of fresh avocados ( Persea americana ) for consump tion originating in 
countries in which this pest is present.  
On 2 9 January 2 018, the SFE issued Resolution DSFE -002-2018 establishing 
phytosanitary measures for the importation of regulated articles that are vectors of 
ASBVd.  G/SPS/N/CRI/238  
- 2 - 
  On 14 December 2 020, the SFE u pdated the list of regulated pests on the International 
Phytosanitary Portal of the International Plant Protection Convention, in which it is 
reaffirmed that ASBVd is a quarantine pest that is not found in Costa Rica.  
On 17 May 2 021, the Central Laboratory  for Pest Diagnosis of the SFE's Laboratory 
Department issued document LDP -FUN-0047-2021. This document reports that, when the 
tests to monitor regulated pests were conducted on shipments of fresh avocados ( Persea 
americana ) for consumption originating in Honduras, the quarantine pest ASBVd was 
detected on five occasions, with the results being confirmed through sequencing.  
The SFE has therefore decided to temporarily implement phytosanitary measures on the 
importation of fresh avocados ( Persea americana ) for consumption originating in 
Honduras, and to provide WTO Members and trading partners with the opportunity to 
make comments in writing.  
9. 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 or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : 
[ ] 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:  
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) : Upon 
publication  
[ ] 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 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  (SPS Enquiry and Notification Point)  
Apartado postal 1521 - 1200 
San José, Costa Rica  
Tel.: (+506) 2549 3407  
Fax: (+506) 2549 3598  
Email : puntocontactoMSF@sfe.go.cr