. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/CRI/99 
25 January 2011 
 (11-0410) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Notifying Member:  COSTA RICA
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible:  Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganad ería, Servicio Fitosanitario del 
Estado , SFE (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, State Phytosanitary Service) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  International Classification for Standa rds (ICS) code 67.040:  Unprocessed 
foods 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners [ ] Specific regions or countries: 
5. Title of the notified document:  RTCA 67.06.55:09, Buenas Prác ticas de Higiene para los 
Alimentos No Procesados  (Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) 
No. 67.06.55:09:  Good Hygiene Practices for unprocessed foods)  Language:  Spanish  
Number of pages:  27 
Text available online in Spanish at: 
http://members.wto.org/crnattach ments/2011/sps/CRI/11_0204_00_s.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The notified Technical Regulation establishes the general 
provisions concerning the hygiene practices applicable to unprocessed foods, from the 
reception of the raw materials to the processing,  packaging, storage and transport of the 
products, in order to ensure that food is safe and fit for human consumption. 
These provisions apply to all establishments wh ich handle, store and distribute unprocessed 
food products within the Central American area. 
The notified Technical Regulation does not apply to activities related to primary 
production, the processed food and beverage indus try, public food services or retail outlets, 
which will be governed by other health regulations. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or  disease, [ ] protect territory from other 
damage from pests.  G/SPS/N/CRI/99 
Page 2  
 
  8. Is there a relevant international stan dard?  If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex standard 
or related text) :  Codex Alimentarius Commission, Recommended International 
Code of Practice "General Principles of Food Hygiene", CAC/RCP-1-1969, Rev. 4-2003. 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)  
[ ] 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:  
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:  None 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  To be determined 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [X] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure 
12. Final date for comments:  [X] Sixty days  from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  26 March 2011 
Agency or authority designated to handle 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 Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:  
Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería 
Servicio Fitosanitario del Estado (SFE) 
Centro de Información y Notificación en  Medidas Sanitarias y Fitosanitarias 
Apartado Postal 10094-1000 San José, Costa Rica Tel: +(506) 2549-3454 Fax: +(506) 2549-3599 E-mail: notificaciones@sfe.go.cr 
Website: http://www.sfe.go.cr/