G/SPS/N/CRI/237  
22 April 2021 
(21-3449) 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, SENASA  (National Animal 
Health 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 addition, 
where applicable) : Animals, products and by -product s of animal origin, animal feed, 
genetic material and veterinary drugs, in accordance with General Law No. 8495 on the 
National Animal Health Service  
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 : Proyecto de Decreto Ejecutivo "Obligatoriedad de la 
evaluación y aprobación previa para exportar a Costa Rica mercancías sometidas al 
control del SENASA conforme a la L ey N° 8495"  (Draft Executive Decree "Mandatory prior 
assessment and approval for the exportation to Costa Rica of goods subject to SENASA 
control pursuant to  Law No. 8495") Language(s) : Spanish Number of pages : 15 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/CRI/21_2921_00_s.pdf  
6. Description of content : The notified text provides for the mandatory prior assessment 
and approval of the equivalence of exporti ng countries' specific measures or entire 
systems, of specific trade sectors, of establishments or of specific or general goods, as 
applicable, for any establishment or natural or legal person interested in exporting to 
Costa Rica goods subject to SENASA c ontrol pursuant to Law No. 8495.  
7. Objective and rationale : [X] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[X] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [X] protect territory from 
other damage from pests  
8. Is there a relevant international standard ? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or seria l 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?  G/SPS/N/CRI/237  
- 2 - 
  [ ] 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) : 13 September 2 021 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 13 October 2 021 
11. Proposed date of entry into force : [X] Six months from date of publication, 
and/or ( dd/mm/yy ): 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments : [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 21 June 2 021 
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 (State Phytosanitary Service)  
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 3 598 
Email : puntocontactoMSF@sfe.go.cr