G/SPS/N/CRI/143  
3 December 2013  
(13-6594)  Page: 1/2  
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 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 num bers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable): Fresh melons, watermelons and other cucurbits for consumption (HS 
code: 0807) 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners, or 
[X] Specific regions or countries: Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Brazil and the 
United States (Arizona, Ca lifornia, Kansas and Texas)  
5. Title of the notified document: Enfermedad del melón y sandía  Monosporascus 
cannonballus  (Root Rot y Vine Decline)  (Melon and watermelon disease Monosporascus 
cannonballus  (root rot and vine decline)) Language(s): Spanish Number of pages: 9 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2013/SPS/CRI/13_4762_00_s.pdf 
6. Description of content: Precautionary measure relating to the presence of the melon and 
watermelon disease Monosporascus cannonballus . This fungus can cause devastating 
losses (up to 100%) in melon and watermelon production. 
7. Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [ ] animal heal th, [X] 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: Costa Rica is 
predominantly agricultural and is known for producing melons, watermelons and other cucurbits of economic importance to the country. Technical and scientific reports have 
indicated the presence of the fungus Monosporascus cannonballus , which causes serious 
damage to such crops, in Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Brazil and the United States (Arizona, California, Kansas and Texas). Costa Rica has therefore decided to: 
1. Temporarily suspend, with immediate effect and until the risk analysis is reviewed, the 
importation of melons and watermelons from Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Brazil and the 
United States (Arizona, California, Kansas and Texas), so as to prevent this disease from entering the country. 
2. Any consignments in transit on the date of the entry into effect of point 1 above must 
be accompanied by the relevant phytosanitary certificate issued previously. G/SPS/N/CRI/143 
- 2 - 
  9. Is there a relevant international stan dard? 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)  
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)  Article VI of 
the International Plant Protection Convention; ISPM No. 20: Guidelines for a 
phytosanitary import regulatory system. 
[ ] 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: 
- CABI 
"http://www.cabi.org/cpc/?aqb=yes&compid =1&dsid=34599&loadmodule=datasheet&pag
e=868&site=161 " 
- Primer reporte de Monosporascus cannonballus causante de la "Muerte Súbita o Colapso 
del Melón" en México  (First report on Monosporascus cannonballus , the cause of "sudden 
death" or "collapse" of melon in Mexico). 
- Articles 2, 3 and 5 of the Agreement on th e Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
Measures (available in English). 
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
Immediately. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [X] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
13. Texts available from: [X] National Noti fication Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if availabl e) 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 
E-mail: puntocontactoMSF@sfe.go.cr