. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/CRI/76 
11 June 2009 
 (09-2814) 
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 Ganadería, Servicio Nacional de Salud 
Animal , SENASA (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, National Animal Health 
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):  Live cattle 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners, or 
[ ] Specific regions or countries: 
5. Title of the notified document:  Reglamento para el Funcionamiento y Comercialización 
de Ganado en Pie en Subasta y Otorgamiento del Certificado Veterinario de Operación.  
Decreto Nº 34976-MAG-MEIC-SP  (Decree No. 34976-MAG- MEIC-SP:  Regulation 
governing the operations of cattle auction estab lishments and the sale by auction of live 
cattle, and the issue of the veterinary certificat e of operation), published in Official Journal 
La Gaceta  No. 21 of 30 January 2009. 
Text available online at: 
http://www.senasa.go.cr/Documentos/Decretos/34976-MAG-MEIC-SP.pdf  
Full text of notified document: http://members.wto.org/crnattach ments/2009/sps/CRI/09_2002_00_s.pdf
 
Language:  Spanish Number of pages:  10 
6. Description of content:  The notified Regulation harmonizes the procedures for live cattle 
auctions in order to secure the greatest we ll-being for the animals, to improve disease 
surveillance and control and to regulate the issu e of veterinary certificates of operation to 
cattle auction establishments.  Sale by aucti on is prohibited as a marketing mechanism for 
swine. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ ] food safety , [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[X] protect humans from animal/plant pest or  disease, [ ] protect territory from other 
damage from pests.  G/SPS/N/CRI/76 
Page 2  
 
  8. 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 Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM N°)  
[X] None 
Does this proposed regulation conform to  the relevant international standard? 
 [ ] 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: 
• Executive Decree ( Decreto Ejecutivo ) No. 32501-MAG-MEIC-SP of 
23 February 2005, published in Official Journal La Gaceta No. 150 of 
5 August 2005 (text repealed by the notified Decree). 
• Executive Decree ( Decreto Ejecutivo ) No. 34976-MAG-MEIC-SP, 
published in Official Journal La Gaceta No. 21 of 30 January 2009. 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  Upon publication in the Official Journal 
La Gaceta  
Propose date of publication ( dd/mm/yy) : 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  Upon publication in Official Journal La Gaceta  No. 21 on 30 January 2009 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or ( dd/mm/yy ):  Not applicable 
Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [ ] 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 Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA) Centro de Información y Notificación en  Medidas Sanitarias y Fitosanitarias 
Apartado Postal 70-3006 
Barreal de Heredia, Costa Rica 
Tel.: +(506) 2260-8300, Ext. 2065 Fax: +(506) 2262-7831 E-mail: notificaciones@protecnet.go.cr