G/SPS/N/CRI/239  
2 September  2021 
(21-6571) Page: 1/3 
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 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) : HS code(s) : 1601, 16024, 160210, 160220, 160290 and 0203  
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 SENASA -DC-A-R0029 -2021, Ordena la 
suspensión temporal de ingreso de productos y subproductos de origen porcino (cerdo) 
que acompañen el equipaje de mano y el declarado en carga de pasajeros nacionales o 
extranjeros que ingrese n temporal o permanentemente a territorio costarricense por 
aeropuertos, puertos marítimos y fluviales o puestos de ingreso terrestre fronterizos 
provenientes de cualquier país como medida precautoria y de contingencia con el fin de 
prevenir el ingreso a C osta Rica del virus de la peste porcina africana  (Resolution SENASA -
DC-A-R0029 -2021, Orders the temporary suspension of imports of pig (swine) products 
and by -products accompanying the hand baggage and declared cargo of domestic or 
foreign passengers who t emporarily or permanently enter Costa Rican territory through 
airports, sea and river ports or land border entry points from any country as a 
precautionary and contingency measure, with the aim of preventing the entry of the 
African swine fever (ASF) virus  into Costa Rica) Language(s) : Spanish Number of 
pages : 3 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/CRI/21_5520_00_s.pdf  
6. Description of content : In order to protect public health and veterinary public health, the 
notified Resolution establishes, with immediate effect, the temporary suspension of the 
import of raw, cured, cooked, tinned, packaged, or any other form of pig (swine) products 
and by -products, accompanying the hand baggage and declared cargo of domestic or 
foreign passengers who temporarily or permanently enter Costa Rican territory through 
airports, sea and river ports or land border entry points from any country as a 
precaution ary and contingency measure, with the aim of preventing the entry of the ASF 
virus into Costa Rica.  
7. Objective and rationale : [ ] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection, [ ] 
protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reasons for urgent action : On 5 July 2 018, the 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the World Trad e Organization 
(WTO) notified Resolution SENASA -DG-R0047 -2018 of the Directorate -General of the G/SPS/N/CRI/239  
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  National Animal Health Service,  SENASA  of Costa Rica through document 
G/SPS/N/CRI/200, which establishes requirements for the importation of products and by -
products of animal origin for personal consumption that are brought into Costa Rica in the 
accompanied baggage of passengers and tourists, including animal feed and chews.  
On 8 January 2 020, document DCA -PG-04-IN-03, "Importation of products and by -
products o f animal origin for personal consumption and/or use, version 09", was updated . 
It serves as a guide for passengers and tourists for the importation of products and by -
products of animal origin, for non -commercial purposes, contained in accompanied 
baggage . The document authorizes the importation of cooked and cured sausages from 
establishments approved by SENASA of Costa Rica.  
On 29 July 2 021, the Department of Animal Health of the Dominican Republic informed the 
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) o f the presence of the ASF virus in backyard 
pig farms located in La Mina, Monte Cristi, La Breña and Sánchez Ramírez, with outbreaks 
reported to have started on 1 July  and confirmed on 2 8 July . 
The disease has been detected in Africa, Asia and Europe, and now that its presence has 
been detected and proven in the Caribbean, it has created alarm and a degree of risk of it 
spreading in our immediate environment.  
The entry of the disease into Costa Rican territory would have a serious socio -economic  
impact on the families and industry that depend on pig farming and would expose the 
country to the risk of its various trading partners closing their markets to Costa Rican pig 
product exports.  
9. Is there a relevant international standard ? If so, identi fy the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : 
[X] World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. T errestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Chapter 15.1  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. I SPM No.) : 
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] 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) : 
Immediately  
[ ] 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:  G/SPS/N/CRI/239  
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  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 (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock)  
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 3598  
Email : puntocontactoMSF@sfe.go.cr