G/SPS/N/CRI/191  
24 October  2017 
(17-5749) 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 : Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, Servicio Fitosanitario  del 
Estado , SFE (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, State Phytosanitary Service)  
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 applicabl e): HS code 080440 : Fresh avocados  
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 Resolución de medidas de mitigación y 
requisitos fitosanitarios para la importación de artículos reglamentados, vía de Avocado 
sunblotch viroid  (ASBVd) (Draft Resolution establishing mitigation measures and 
phytosanitary requirements for the importation of regulated articles that are vectors of 
Avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd)) Language(s) : Spanish Number of pages : 6 
Text available at:  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/SPS/CRI/17_4654_00_s.pdf  
6. Description of content : The notified Resolution replaces and repeals Resolution DSFE -
03-2015 of 2 2 April 2 015 issued by the Executive Directorate of the State Phytosanitary 
Service, notified as an emergency measure (G/SPS/N/CRI/160).  
It establishes the following phytosanitary measures for the importation of regulated 
articles that are vectors o f Avocado Sunblotch Viroid (ASBVd), originating from any country 
in which the pest Avocado Sunblotch Viroid (ASBVd) is present:  
1. Fresh avocados ( Persea americana Mill .) for human consumption must meet one of the 
following requirements:  
- Shipments requir e an official phytosanitary certificate issued by the country of 
origin, which indicates, in the section for additional declarations, that they are free 
from Avocado Sunblotch Viroid ; 
- Shipments require an official certificate issued by the country of ori gin, which 
indicates, in the section for additional declarations, that they come from a place of 
production free from Avocado Sunblotch Viroid (previously recognized by the State 
Phytosanitary Service);  
- Shipments must adhere to a systems approach programme which is established 
bilaterally, and which may be implemented , for example,  through a work plan.  
2. Avocado ( Persea americana Mill .) plants for planting:  
- Shipments require an official certificate issued by the country of origin, which 
indicates, in the section for additional declarations, that the plants come from 
mother plants which are free from Avocado sunblotch viroid  and which are subject 
to indexing a nd sampling at least twice a year . Laboratory analysis results must be 
attached;  G/SPS/N/CRI/191  
- 2 - 
  - After importation, shipments will be subject to post -entry quarantine for a period 
of up to six months.  
Shipments will be subject to laboratory tests upon arrival in the cou ntry. 
7. Objective and rationale : [ ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [X] plant protection, [ ] 
protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Is there a relevant international standard ? If so, i dentify 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) : 
[X] International Plant Protection Convention  (e.g. I SPM No.)  
International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) No. 10: "Requirements 
for the establishment of pest -free places of production and pest -free production 
sites"  
International Standards for Phytosanitary Me asures (ISPM) No. 11: "Pest risk 
analysis for quarantine pests " 
[ ] 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 standar d:  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 60 days from the date of circulation of the 
notification.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 60 days from the date of circulation of the 
notification.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force : [ ] Six months from date of publication, and/or 
(dd/mm/yy) : 60 days from the date of circulation of the notification.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments : [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/o r (dd/mm/yy) : 22 December 2 017 
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  
Servicio Fitosanitario del Est ado (SFE)  
Centro de Información y Notificación MSF  
Apartado Postal 1521 - 1200 
San José, Costa Rica.  
Tel.: (+506) 2549 -3454 
Fax: (+506) 2549 -3598 
Email : puntocontactoMSF@sfe.go.cr