G/SPS/N/CRI/186  
27 March  2017 
(17-1666) 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 : Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, Servicio Nacional de Salud 
Animal, SENASA (Ministry of Agriculture and Live stock, National Animal Health 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 applicable) : HS code 0105 - Live poultry, that is to say , fowls of the species 
Gallus domesticus , ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowls  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  
[ ] All trading partners, or  
[X] Specific regions or countries : United States of America , specifically the states of 
Tennessee and Wisconsin  
5. Title of the notified document : Resolución N° SENASA -DG-R019-2017 - Dirección 
General Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal  (Resolution SENASA -DG-R019-2017 - 
Directorate -General of the National Animal He alth Service) Language(s) : Spanish 
Number of pages : 2 
Text available at:  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/SPS/CRI/17_1505_00_s.pdf  
6. Description of content : The Directorate -General of the National Animal Health Service 
has decided the following:  
1. To order a temporary suspension of imports of goods under Chapter 10.4 ("Infection 
with avian influenza viruses") of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, which come from 
zones or compartments in the United States where outbreaks of avian influenza have been 
reported, and which were produced or obtained 21 days prior to the beginning of the 
notified outbreak.  This excludes products that may be subject to mitigation mea sures at 
the place of origin, in accordance with the above Chapter of the OIE Terrestrial Animal 
Health Code.  
Zones and compartments shall be understood to mean the state affected by avian 
influenza . In the case of the notified Resolution, this applies to the states of Tennessee and 
Wisconsin.  
The sanitary certificates accompanying imports must indicate the mitigation measures to 
which the avian products were subject, including irradiation treatment, cooking time and 
temperature, pasteurization , and sterili zation.  
2. To order the Animal Quarantine Directorate to remain vigilant for new reports of 
notifiable avian influenza, and to take relevant action with a view to extending  previously 
established import suspensions to new territories.  G/SPS/N/CRI/186  
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  7. Objective and ra tionale : [ ] 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 6 March 2 017, 
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) informed the World Organisation for 
Animal Health (OIE) of the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (serotype H7) in 
commercial poultry in the county of Lincoln, Tennessee . The outbreak began on  1 March  
and was confirmed on 4 March . 
On the same date , the USDA informed the OIE of the presence of low pathogenic avian 
influenza (serotype H5N2) on a commercial turkey farm in the county of Barron, 
Wisconsin.  The outbreak began on 2 March and was confi rmed on 4 March.  
The USDA has placed under quarantine the affected establishment in the county of Lincoln 
in Tennessee and restricted its activity, and the depopulation of the establishment has 
been carried out.  
A full study of the surrounding area has bee n initiated, and monitoring and laboratory 
testing have been in tensified . 
The infected establishment in the county of Barron in Wisconsin has also been placed 
under quarantine, and the depopulation and controlled marketing of the turkeys are due to  
be carr ied out.  
As Costa Rica is free from the avian influenza virus, it is vital to protect the country and its 
poultry industry by implementing measures to delay or prevent the introduction of the 
virus into national territory.  
9. Is there a relevant internati onal standard ? If so, identify 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 10.4 ("Infection with avian 
influenza viruses") of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code  
[ ] 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  G/SPS/N/CRI/186  
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  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:   
13. Text(s) availab le 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