G/SPS/N/COL/301  
20 November  2018 
(18-7263) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member : COLOMBIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible : Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario , ICA (Colombian Agricultural 
Institute)  
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) : Watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus ) seeds  
4. Regions or countries likely to  be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries : Thailand  
5. Title of the notified document : Proyecto de resolución "Por medio de la cual se 
establecen los requisitos fitosanitarios para la i mportación a Colombia de semilla de 
sandía (Citrullus lanatus) de origen y procedencia Tailandia, para uso comercial"  (Draft 
resolution "Establishing phytosanitary requirements for the importation into Colombia of 
watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus ) seeds origi nating in and coming from Thailand,  for 
commercial use") Language(s) : Spanish Number of pages : 3 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/COL/18_5970_00_s.pdf  
6. Description of content : Phytosanitary requirements for the importation into Colombia 
of watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus ) seeds originating in and coming from Thailand,  for 
commercial use.  
The draft resolution covers the following : Purpose ; Phytosanitary import requirements ; 
Official control ; Penalties ; Period of validity.  
7. Objective and rationale : [ ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [X] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Is there a relevant international standard ? 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. T errestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : 
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention ( e.g. I SPM No. ): 
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes [ ] No G/SPS/N/COL/301  
- 2 - 
  If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : Date on which the resolution is signed.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : Date of publication in the Official Journal.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force : [ ] Six months from date of publication, and/or 
(dd/mm/yy ): Upon publication in the Official Journal.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments : [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/o r (dd/mm/yy ): 19 January 2 019 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments : [X] National Notification 
Authority , [X]  National Enquiry Point . Address, fax number and email address 
(if available) of other body:  
Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo  
Dirección de Regulación  
Calle 28, N° 13A - 15, tercer piso  
Bogotá, D.C . Colombia  
Tel.: (+57 1) 606 7676, Ext. 1690  and 1340  
Email:  mortizb@mincit.gov.co  
 mgonzalezs@mincit.gov.co  
Website: http://www.mincit.gov.co/  
 
Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario - ICA 
Subgerencia de Regulación Sanitaria y Fitosanitaria  
Dirección  Técnica de Asuntos Internacionales  
Avenida Calle 26 N° 85B -09 
Bogotá - Colombia  
Tel.: (+57 1) 332 3700 - 288 48 00, Ext. 1510 and 1515  
Email:  asuntos.internacionales@ica.gov.co  
 margarita.lubo@ica.gov.co  
Website: http://www.ica.gov.co/  
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 Comercio, Industria y Turismo  
Dirección de Regulación  
Calle 28, N° 13A - 15, tercer piso  
Bogotá, D.C., Colombia  
 
Enquiry point:  
Email:  mortizb@mincit.gov.co  
Tel.: (+57 1) 606 7676, Ext. 1690  
Website: http://www.mincit.gov.co/