G/SPS/N/COL/251  
30 October 2013  
(13-5994)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: Spanish  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES 
1. Notifying Member: COLOMBIA 
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible: Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario , ICA (Colombian Agricultural 
Institute) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS num bers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable): Crustaceans and products thereof  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners, or 
[X] Specific regions or countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, the 
Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam  
5. Title of the notified document: Resolución N°004364 del 23 de octubre de 2013 del 
Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario - ICA "Por medio de la cual se prohíbe el ingreso al país de crustáceos vivos y sus productos frescos, crudos, refrigerados o congelados, 
provenientes de países afectados por la presencia de la enfermedad denominada Síndrome 
de Mortalidad Temprana (EMS) o Síndrome de Necrosis Hepatopancreática Aguda (APHNS)" (Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) Resolution No. 004364 of 23 October 
2013 "Prohibiting the importation into Colombia of live crustaceans and fresh, raw, chilled 
and frozen products thereof from countries a ffected by Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) or 
Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Syndrome (AHPNS)). " Language: Spanish Number of 
pages: 3 
 Text available at: 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2013/sps/COL/13_4370_00_s.pdf   
6. Description of content: The notified Resolution covers the following: prohibition on the 
importation into Colombia of live crustaceans at all stages of development, and fresh, raw, 
chilled or frozen products thereof; notification; and period of validity. 
7. Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [X] animal heal th, [ ] 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: According to 
information submitted by the NACA, FAO and OI RSA, the presence of the disease known as 
Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) or Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Syndrome (AHPNS) 
has been established in shrimp farms in the Eastern Hemisphere. G/SPS/N/COL/251 
- 2 - 
  9. Is there a relevant international stan dard? 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. 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: Not 
applicable  
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of applicat ion (as applicable): As 
from 24 October 2013, the date of publication in Diario Oficial  (Official Journal) No. 48.953 
for a period of twelve (12) months. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [X] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:  
Servicio Nacional de Información 
Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo 
Dirección de Regulación Calle 28 No. 13A - 15, tercer piso 
Tel.: +(57-1) 606-4775 
Fax: +(57-1) 606-4777 
or 
Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario - ICA 
Subgerencia de Regulación Sanitaria y Fitosanitaria Dirección Técnica de Asuntos Internacionales Carrera 41 # 17 - 81, Piso 4, Oficina 411 (Zona Industrial - Puente Aranda) 
Bogotá, D.C., Colombia 
Tel.: +(57-1) 332-3700, Ext. 1515 Fax: +(57-1) 288-4800 
Website: http://www.ica.gov.co/  
13. Texts available from: [X] National Noti fication Authority, [ ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if availabl e) of other body: 
Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo 
Dirección de Regulación 
Calle 28 N°13A - 15, tercer piso 
Bogotá, D.C., Colombia Enquiry Point 
Contact person: Daniel Héctor Rico R. 
E-mail: drico@mincit.gov.co  puntocontacto@mincit.gov.co Tel.: +(57-1) 606-7676, Ext. 1690 
Fax: +(57-1) 606-4777