G/SPS/N/CRI/168  
7 January 2016  
(16-0142)  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 Salud  (Ministry of Health) 
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): ICS number 83.080: Plastics 
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: RTCR 480:2015 Envases Plásticos. Envases de 
tereftalato de polietileno reciclado (Rpet) grado alimentario destinados a entrar en 
contacto con alimentos. Especificaciones  (Costa Rican Technical Regulation (RTCR) 
No. 480:2015 - Plastic packaging. Food-grade recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) packaging in contact with foodstuffs. Specifications) Language(s): Spanish Number of 
pages: 13 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/CRI/16_0047_00_s.pdf 
6. Description of content: The notified text establishes the manufacturing requirements for 
packaging and precursor products made of re cycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), 
including when mixed with virgin polyethylene terephthalate (PET), that are to come into 
contact with foodstuffs. The purpose of these requirements is to ensure the safety of 
packaged foods. 
7. Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Is there a relevant international st andard? 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:   G/SPS/N/CRI/168 
- 2 - 
  9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : Upon publication in Official Journal La 
Gaceta.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined. 
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) : 7 March 2016 
Agency or authority designated to hand le 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 Estado (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