G/SPS/GEN/1638  
3 August  2018 
(18-4936) Page: 1/1 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
DECLARATION CONCERNING THE RECOGNITION OF  
COSTA RICA'S STATUS AS A COUNTRY FREE  
FROM CLASSICAL SWINE FEVER  
COMMUNICATION FROM COSTA RICA  
The following communication , dated  1 August  2018, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Costa Rica . 
 
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1.  Official recognition of the health status of Members is of great importance for international 
trade and constitutes  one of the essential legal links between the World Organisation for Animal 
Health (OIE)  and the World Trade Organization  (WTO) , within the framework of the WTO 
Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS  Agreement ). In 1998, 
the official agreement between the WTO and the OIE co nfirmed the  OIE's mandate to recognize 
pest- and disease -free areas , in accordance with the SPS Agreement . 
2.  To facilitate safe international trade in animals and animal products, and at the request of 
members, the OIE may take official decisions regarding r isk and animal health status with respect 
to classical swine fever . 
3.  During its 81st General Session, the OIE World Assembly of Delegates (Assembly) adopted 
Resolution No. 29, which amended the chapter of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (Terrestrial 
Code) on classical swine fever . These s tandards provide a pathway for m ember countries or zones  
thereof  to be recogni zed by the OIE as free of classical swine fever . 
4.  During the 83rd General Session, the Assembly adopted Resolution No. 15, which specifies and 
updates the procedure for member countries to follow in order to achieve official recognition and 
maintenance of their status for certain animal diseases, including classical swine fever . 
5.  Over a period of  21 years , Costa Rica has im plemented, through the National Animal Health 
Service  (SENASA), a series of measures for the surveillance, control, prevention and eradication  of 
the disease , which were communicated to WTO Members through document G/SPS/GEN/966 , 
in October  2009, declar ing the country as free of classical swine fever . 
6.  In 2017, Costa Rica submitted to the OIE the questionnaire contained in Chapter 1.6  of the 
Terrestrial Code for official recognition of the classical swine fever status of member countries, 
together with the respective evidence, with a view to being included in the list of members  
recognized as free of the disease.  
7.  During the 86th General Session , held in May 2018, the Assembly adopted Resolution No. 29, 
"Recognition of the C lassical Swine Fever Status of Members",  in which Costa Rica was included on 
the list of members recognized as being free of classical swine fever, in accordance with the 
provisions of Chapter 15.2 of the Terrestrial Code.  
8.  In the interests of transparency and in accordance with Article 6 of the Agreement on the 
Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, we invite Members to take note of this 
recognition, which reflects intensive efforts by both the public and privat e sectors to promote 
animal and public health both in Costa Rica and at the global level.  
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