G/AG/N/CRI/61  
5 October  2017 
(17-5370) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Agriculture  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following submission, dated 2 0 September 2 017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of  Costa Rica . The notification concerns the administration of tariff quotas 
(Table  MA:1) for the year  2016 . 
 
_______________  
 
 
The attached notification is submitted pursuant to the obligation to communicate any changes in 
the administration of tariff quotas, in accordance with the notification requirements and formats 
set out in document  G/AG/2.  
 
The notification concerns the change in the system of administration of import tariff quotas, as 
established in the General Regulations on the Allocation of Import Tariff Quotas (Executive Decree  
No. 39938 -COMEX of 29 September 2 016, published in Official Journal ( La Gaceta ) No. 192 of 
6 October 2 016). The main changes were established pursuant to the "Understanding on Ta riff 
Rate Quota Administration P rovisions of Agricultural Products, as defined in Article 2 of the 
Agreement on Agriculture", adopte d at the Ninth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade 
Organization held in Bali from 3 to 6 December 2 013. The other changes were introduced to 
improve the administra tion and use of tariff quotas.  
 
The regulations and other relevant documentation on tariff quotas and import licensing are 
available on the Ministry of Foreign Trade (COMEX) website at  
http://www.comex.go.cr/tramites_servicios/contingentes.aspx  
 
Questions may be addressed to the following government body : 
Dirección General de Comercio Exterior del Ministerio de Comercio Ex terior de Costa Rica  
Tel.: (506) 2505 -4000 
Fax: (506) 2505 -4002 
Website : http://www.comex.go.cr  
Email : agricultura_contingentes@comex.go.cr  
 pep@comex.go.cr   
  G/AG/N/CRI/61  
 
- 2 - Table  MA:1 
MARKET ACCESS : COSTA RICA  
REPORTING PERIOD : 2016  
Implementation of market access opportunities: tariff and other quota commitments  
TQ ID  Description of products Tariff item 
number(s) 
encompassed in 
product description  Description of import arrangement applicable  
(from Section  I-B (or I-A) of Part I of the  Schedule ) 
1 2 3 
CRIQ002  POULTRY AND POULTRY PRODUCTS; CUTS AND OFFAL 
OF POULTRY : 02071392; 02071393;  
02071394; 02071399;  
02071492; 02071493;  
02071494; 02071499;  
02072690; 02074490;  
02075490; 02076049  (a) Allocation of quotas to supplying countries: None  
 
(b) Allocation of  licences or of access to quotas to importers  
 
(i) Government agency, trading or administrative body competent to grant licences or 
access to quotas, including those which have formally, or in effect, exclusive or special 
privileges: The Minist ry of Foreig n Trade (COMEX), through ministerial resolution (for historical 
applicants) and resolution of the Directorate -General of Foreign Trade (for new applicants) 
(see subparagraph ( iii) below ), in accordance with the provisions of Executive Decree 
No. 39938 -COME X. 
 
(ii) Any l imita tions on eligibility of applicants: The allocation process is open to both natural 
and legal persons that are up to date in their social security obligations and registered as importers 
of vegetable or animal products with the competent health authority, as appropriate.  
 
Affiliated applicants for quota allocation in respect of the same product and the same allocation 
process are considered to be making a single application. No quantity shall be allocated to a new 
applicant affiliated to a  historical applicant. The following are understood to be affiliated applicants : 
 
a. In the case of natural persons, if the applicant is an employee, partner or blood relative or relative 
in law up to and including the third degree of another applicant; if  the applicant or any of his 
relatives referred to above is a partner, legal representative or member of the board of directors of 
another applicant; if the applicant is an employee, partner or blood relative or relative in law up to 
the third degree of a natural person who controls, is a partner in or legal representative of or holds a 
managerial or representative position with another applicant.  
 CRIQ004  Milk and cream, not concentrated nor containing added 
sugar or other sweetening matter  0401 
CRIQ005  Milk and cream, concentrated or containing added 
sugar or other sweetening matter (excluding 
condensed and evaporated milk)  0402 (except 0402.91.10 
and 0402.99.10)  
 
CRIQ008  Buttermilk, curdled milk and cream, yogurt, kephir and 
other fermented or  acidified milk and cream, whether 
or not concentrated or containing added sugar or other 
sweetening matter or flavoured or containing added 
fruit, nuts or cocoa  0403 
CRIQ010  BUTTER AND OTHER FATS AND OILS DERIVED FROM 
MILK 0405 
CRIQ011  Cheese and curd  (excluding headings for 
cheddar -type, dehydrated, green - or blue -veined and 
other cheese ) 04061000; 04063000  
CRIQ022  Sausages and similar products, of meat, meat offal or 
blood; food preparations based on these products; of 
poultry of heading No. 01.05; Other  16010020; 16021020;   
16023210; 16023290  
 
  
  G/AG/N/CRI/61  
 
- 3 - TQ ID  Description of products Tariff item 
number(s) 
encompassed in 
product description  Description of import arrangement applicable  
(from Section  I-B (or I-A) of Part I of the  Schedule ) 
1 2 3 
CRIQ025  Ice cream and other edible ice, whether or not 
containing cocoa  2105 b. In the case of legal persons, if one of the partners, directors or legal representatives of an 
applicant company is also an applicant in a personal capacity; if one of the partners, directors or 
legal representatives of an applicant company also holds any of these positions in another applicant 
company; if one of the partners, directors or legal representatives of an applicant company is a blood 
relative or relative in law up to and i ncluding the third degree of a natural person who controls, is a 
partner in or legal representative of or holds a managerial or representative position with another 
applicant; or if one of the partners, directors or legal representatives is also employed b y an 
applicant legal person.  
 
(iii) How licences or access are to be allocated : 80% of the available volume is distributed 
among historical applicants, that is, those that had a quota allocated to them in the year prior to the 
call for applications. The ca ll for applications is issued in October of the year prior to the quota year, 
and the allocation is made by ministerial resolution during the first 15 working days of December of 
that year.  
 
If the total volume requested is less than or equal to the volume  available, each applicant will be 
allocated the volume requested. If the total volume requested is greater than the volume available, 
the volume to be allocated to each such applicant is determined using the following formula : 
 
𝑪𝒊𝒕=𝒙𝒊𝒕−𝟏
∑𝒙𝒊𝒕−𝟏 𝒏
𝒊=𝟏 
 
Where : 
 
𝑪𝒊𝒕 Is the percentage of the volume available for historical applicants that is 
allocated to applicant i in the calendar year in which the call for 
applications (t) is issued;  
𝒙𝒊𝒕−𝟏 
 Is the total volume of imports effected under the quota by the applicant i 
during the calendar year immediately preceding ( t-1) the year in which 
the call for applications ( t) is made;  
∑𝒙𝒊𝒕−𝟏𝒏
𝒊=𝟏
∶ Is the total volume of imports made under the quota  by all historical 
applicants during the calendar year immediately preceding ( t-1) the year 
in which the call for applications ( t) is made; and  
n Is the total number of importers that used the import quota in the 
calendar year immediately preceding ( t-1) the year in which the call for 
applications is made ( t). 
 
Under no circumstances will a quota volume greater than that requested be allocated. Any remaining 
volume will be made available to the historical applicants during the first half of the year.  
   20% of the available volume will be made available to new applicants during the first half of the 
year, from the first working day of January, on a "first -come, first -served" basis, in accordance with 
the daily order of submission of applications .  
  
  G/AG/N/CRI/61  
 
- 4 - TQ ID  Description of products Tariff item 
number(s) 
encompassed in 
product description  Description of import arrangement applicable  
(from Section  I-B (or I-A) of Part I of the  Schedule ) 
1 2 3 
If the total volume requested on a single day is less than or equal to that which is available, the 
volume requested will be allocated to each interested party. If the total volume requested in a single 
day is greater than that which is available, the volu me available will be distributed in accordance with 
the following formula:  
𝐶𝑖=𝑥𝑖
∑𝑥𝑖𝑘
𝑖=1 
 
𝑪𝒊∶ is the percentage of the volume available that day for 
new applicants that is assigned to applicant  i; 
𝑿𝒊∶ is the volume requested that day by applicant i; 
∑𝒙𝒊𝒌
𝒊=𝟏 : is the total volume requested that day by all new 
applicant s; and  
k : is the total number of applicants that day . 
 
Under no circumstances will an import quota volume greater than that requested be allocated . 
 
Remaining quota shares will be made available during the first half of the year, as appropriate, to 
historical applicants or new applicants. These volumes will be allocated on a "first -come, first -served" 
basis, in accordance with the daily order of submission of applications, and in line with the 
arrangements referred to above.  
 
(iv) Any l imita tions on the period of validity or use of the licences granted: The import  
period begins on 1 January or on the date on which the resolution governing the quota allocation is 
issued and runs until 31 December of the corresponding year.  
 
(c) details of other arrangements (not involving import licences) under which access to quotas is to 
be administered: Not applicable . 
 
(d) any other information relevant to the implementation of market access opportunities under such 
arrangements. The Regulation and o ther relevant information are available for consultation at  
http://www.comex.go.cr/tramites_servicios/contingentes.aspx . 
 
 
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