WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/AG/N/CRI/40 
14 May 2012 
 (12-2586) 
Committee on Agriculture Original:   Spanish 
  
 
NOTIFICATION  
 
  The following submission, dated 8 May 2012, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Costa Rica .  The notification concerns domestic support commitments ( Table DS:1) 
for 2011 . 
 
_______________ 
 
 
Please note that not all figures for Supporting Table DS:1 for 2011 have been included.  
These figures will be circulated subsequently as a revision of this notification.  
No domestic support measures under Article 6.2 of  the Agreement on Agriculture were in 
place in 2011.  
 
  
  G/AG/N/CRI/40 
Page 2 Table DS:1 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Costa Rica  
 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2011  
 
Current Total Aggregate Measurement of Support  
 
Total AMS commitment level for period in question Currency Current total AMS 
(from Section I of Part IV of the Schedule) (from Section I of  Part IV of the Schedule) (from attached Supporting Tables) 
1 2 3 
15,945.00 US$ thousand1 104,485.86 
 
1 Average exchange rate for 2011:  CRC 511.05 to  US$1 (Source:  Central Bank of Costa Rica). 
  
   G/AG/N/CRI/40
 Page 3Supporting Table DS:1 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Costa Rica  
 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2011  
 
Measures Exempt from the Reduc tion Commitment - "Green Box"  
 
Measure type Name and descripti on of measure with reference  
to criteria in Annex 2 Monetary value of measure in 
year in question 
(US$ thousand1) Data source 
1 2 3 4 
(a) General services    
Research Research by the National In stitute for Agricultural Innovation and 
Technology Transfer (INTA):  Contribution to the development of Costa 
Rica's agricultural sector through research, innovation and technology 
transfer programmes aimed at creat ing competitive production systems 
and achieving food security wh ile accommodating environmental 
concerns, by providing services and products that meet  technological 
needs and improve the quality of life of the Costa Rican population.  n/a National Institute for Agricultural  
Innovation and Technology  
Transfer (INTA) 
 Research, conservation and exploita tion of water resources:  Research, 
control and monitoring of water resources so as to prevent any 
deterioration and minimize the effect s of exploitation by preserving 
these resources in quant itative and qualitative te rms.  Supply of basic 
information and data collection for studies on water resources all over 
the country. n/a National Groundwater, Irrigation and  
Drainage Service (SENARA) 
 Technological research, devel opment and dissemination services 
(National Production Council):  Studies  on the physical characterization 
and quality of horticultural products in the field;  validation studies for 
technical regulations and procedures for the biophysical description of 
certain fresh fruit and vegetables, transport simulations, useful life 
analyses, effect of post-harvest treatment, cold storage, product 
characterization, and classification and quantification of damage and 
defects. n/a National Production  
Council (CNP) 
Pest and disease control Pest and disease control programme:  General programmes implemented 
by the State Phytosanitary Service to protect the country's agricultural 
heritage from economic a nd quarantine pests, to protect human health 
and biodiversity, and to comply with phytosanitary regulations 
governing domestic and internat ional marketing of plants. n/a Ministry of Agriculture and  
Livestock (MAG)  
  G/AG/N/CRI/40 
Page 4 Measure type Name and descripti on of measure with reference  
to criteria in Annex 2 Monetary value of measure in 
year in question 
(US$ thousand1) Data source 
1 2 3 4 
 Pest control emergency fund:  Funds  for the control of quarantine and 
economic pests and diseases presenti ng a threat to the national economy.n/a Ministry of Agriculture and  
Livestock (MAG) 
 Animal health programme:  Genera l programmes to preserve, protect 
and enhance the health status of the country's livestock through 
improved domestic production, animal health, veterinary public health 
and environmental protection, and the application of domestic and 
international standards for that purpose. n/a Ministry of Agriculture and  
Livestock (MAG) 
Training services Agricultural outreach programme:  By providing effective technical 
assistance and training, this programme  contributes to maintaining food 
security and to the development of the agricultural sector and the rural 
environment. n/a Ministry of Agriculture and  
Livestock (MAG) 
 Agri-food quality and safety services (Standards and Certification 
Department, Agricultural Quality Directorate, National Production 
Council):  Training in food quality and safety assurance, food quality 
and safety auditing and inspection, occupational hygiene and health, and 
corporate social responsibility. n/a National Production  
Council (CNP) 
 Laboratory and technical regulatio n advisory services (Laboratory 
Department, Agricultural Quality Directorate, National Production 
Council):  Training for agricultural producers and engineers concerning 
technical regulations governing the st aple grain and horticultural product 
quality control system.  Training in the monitoring of rice and bean 
processing plants in conjunction with rice growers (CONARROZ). n/a National Production  
Council (CNP) 
 Post-harvest services (Post-Ha rvest Department, National Production 
Council):  Training for groups of producers and technical personnel 
working for organizations or the State concerning post-harvest 
physiology principles, activities, da mage and defects in relation to fruit 
and vegetable production intended both for export and the local market.  
Training for agricultural fair officials. n/a National Production  
Council (CNP) 
 Training services provided by the National Training Institute:  Training 
and advisory activities aimed at the agricultural sector and focusing on 
plant and animal husbandry, forest ry, the environment, agricultural 
mechanization, soil and water tec hnology, and busi ness management. n/a National Training  
Institute (INA)  
   G/AG/N/CRI/40
 Page 5Measure type Name and descripti on of measure with reference  
to criteria in Annex 2 Monetary value of measure in 
year in question 
(US$ thousand1) Data source 
1 2 3 4 
Extension and advisory services Programme for agro-industrial developmen t and modernization and 
greater value added:  Advisory servic es, technical assistance and training 
for structured groups of small a nd medium-sized agricultural and 
agro-industrial producers in areas such as food technology, hygienic 
handling of products and food management, good manufacturing 
practices, hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), 
agribusiness management, support for the design and monitoring of civil 
engineering work for agribusiness, evaluation of agro-industrial 
processes, plant and production line di stribution, land valuation, and 
product analysis and development. n/a National Production  
Council (CNP) 
 Price and market information and extension services:  Compilation, 
analysis and dissemination of market-related information, such as data 
on staple grains and horticultural products, including guidance for 
organizations in analysing, interp reting and making proper use of the 
information. n/a National Production  
Council (CNP) 
 Costa Rican agricultural sector  information system (INFOAGRO):  
Information and communication system for the agricultural sector 
facilitating access to data and the generation of knowledge in order to 
improve agricultural competitiveness. n/a Executive Secretariat for Sectoral  
Planning in Agriculture (SEPSA) 
Inspection services Inspection and analysis  for food security purposes (Laboratory 
Department, Agricultural Quality Directorate, National Production 
Council):  This service is provided main ly in natural disaster situations 
in which the country requires an analysis of products in processing 
plants, together with border inspecti ons, following the adoption of food 
quality and safety measures in order to safeguard food security. n/a National Production  
Council (CNP) 
Marketing and promotion services Marketing and ma rket development programme (Marketing Department, 
Marketing and Agribusiness Director ate, National Production Council):  
Support for small and medium-sized agricultural producers in the 
marketing of fresh produce and proce ssed products.  The service aims, 
inter alia , to facilitate contacts with potential buyers, the development of 
marketing plans, advisory services on export procedures and logistics, 
and the search for and identification and adaptation of differentiated 
quality labels. n/a National Production  
Council (CNP) 
Infrastructural services Hydro-agricultural infr astructure programme at district level and in 
small irrigation and drainage areas:  Preliminary feasibility studies for 
and development of hydro-agricu ltural projects, such as the 
Arenal-Tempisque project and sma ll irrigation and drainage areas 
throughout the country. n/a National Groundwater, Irrigation and  
Drainage Service (SENARA)  
  G/AG/N/CRI/40 
Page 6 Measure type Name and descripti on of measure with reference  
to criteria in Annex 2 Monetary value of measure in 
year in question 
(US$ thousand1) Data source 
1 2 3 4 
 Programme for the development of agricultural production, involving 
irrigation and drainage works:  Support for the operation and 
maintenance of hydro-agricultural projects at national level, in districts 
under the responsibility of the Na tional Groundwater, Irrigation and 
Drainage Service (SENARA) and in the framework of the national 
irrigation and drainage programme for small areas.  Technical assistance 
is provided for users of hydro-agricu ltural projects involving the transfer 
of water resource management  technology at farm level. n/a National Groundwater, Irrigation and  
Drainage Service (SENARA) 
Other services Watershed mana gement programme:  The measure aims to develop field 
activities and projects in several of the country's watersheds in order to 
ensure sustainable use of natural, social and economic resources through 
an integrated and participatory appro ach.  It consists of environmental 
education programmes and projects and training and advisory services 
for producers and includes training and extension and advisory services. n/a Costa Rican Electricity  
Institute (ICE) 
(b) Public stockholding for food security 
purposes  0.00  
(c) Domestic food aid  0.00  
(d) Decoupled income support Temporary unemploym ent subsidy programme for small agricultural 
producers adversely affected by na tional emergency situations:  The 
temporary programme seeks to help revitalize the agricultural sector in 
affected regions by granting tempor ary unemployment subsidies to small 
agricultural producers (support decoupled from previous years' 
production levels and international prices). n/a Ministry of Agriculture and  
Livestock (MAG) 
(e) Income insurance and income 
safety-net programmes  0.00  
(f) Payments for relief from natural 
disasters  0.00  
(g) Structural adjustment assistance 
provided through producer retirement 
programmes  0.00  
(h) Structural adjustment assistance 
provided through resource retirement 
programmes  0.00  
(i) Structural adjustment assistance 
provided through investment aids Sustainable Agricultural Producti on Promotion Progr amme (PFPAS):  
Management and general administra tion programmes;  investment and 
technical assistance;  training, information and studies with a view to 
supporting competitiveness. 0.00 Sustainable Agricultural Production  
Promotion Programme (PFPAS)  
   G/AG/N/CRI/40
 Page 7Measure type Name and descripti on of measure with reference  
to criteria in Annex 2 Monetary value of measure in 
year in question 
(US$ thousand1) Data source 
1 2 3 4 
(j) Environmental programmes Payment for environmental services in agro-forestry systems:  This 
programme provides economic comp ensation for land-owning farmers 
growing multi-purpose forest plantati ons in close combination with 
annual or perennial crops and/or an imal husbandry, as an effective 
means of maintaining, rehabilitati ng and developing forest ecosystems. n/a National Forestry Financing Fund 
(FONAFIFO) 
 Recognition of the environmental be nefits of Sustainable Agricultural 
Production Promotion Programme (P FPAS) projects:  A financial 
incentive is granted to PFPAS projects for the environmental benefits 
generated. n/a Ministry of Agriculture and  
Livestock (MAG) 
 Recognition of the environmental bene fits of organic farming by micro, 
small and medium-sized organic producers:  A fi nancial incentive is 
granted to micro, small and medium-sized organic producers for the 
environmental benefits resulting from their activities.  n/a Ministry of Agriculture and  
Livestock (MAG) 
(k) Regional assistance programmes Establishment of se ttlements:  This programme covers all the procedures 
necessary to set up rural settlements,  in order to help farming families 
establish themselves on the land they have bought and to provide them 
with legal evidence of ownership and he nce right of occupancy.  It also 
encompasses monitoring and follow-up of agricultural activities in the 
settlements by the IDA. n/a Agrarian Development  
Institute (IDA) 
 Settlement development services:  The programme covers the necessary 
processes to promote and strengthen the development of settlements and 
the families' integration in the rural environment. n/a  Agrarian Development  
Institute (IDA) 
 Rural development programme:  A dvisory, training and information 
services for local governments, ru ral organizations and the rural 
population in general.  These rural development measures aim to build 
up the rural population's organizati onal, management  and negotiating 
capacity. n/a Ministry of Agriculture and  
Livestock (MAG) 
Total  n/a  
 
1 Average exchange rate for 2011:  C 511.05 to  US$1 (Source:  Central Bank of Costa Rica). 
n/a:  This information was not available when the notification was being prepared.  
  G/AG/N/CRI/40 
Page 8 Supporting Table DS:4 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Costa Rica 
 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2011 
 
Calculation of the Current Total Aggregate Measurement of Support 
 
Description of basic products (including 
non-product-specific AMS) Product-specific AMS (from Supporting Tables 
DS:5 to DS:7 below) 
 
(US$ thousand) Product-specific measurements of support 
(from Supporting Table DS:8 below) 
 
(US$ thousand) Current total AMS (aggregate) 
 
 
(US$ thousand) 
1 2 3 4 
Rice 104,485.86 0.00 104,485.86 
Non-product-specific AMS 0.00      - 0.00 
    
TOTAL AMS   104,485.86 
  
   G/AG/N/CRI/40
 Page 9Supporting Table DS:5 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Costa Rica 
 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2011  
 
Product-Specific Aggregate Measurement of Support:  Market Price Support  
 
Description of  
basic product Calendar/ 
marketing year 
beginning… Measure type(s) Applied 
administered  
price 
(US$/tonne)1 External reference 
price (generally 
from AGST/…) 
(US$/tonne) Eligible  
production 
 
(tonnes) Associated 
fees/levies 
 
(US$) Total market price 
support 
 
(US$) Data source 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 
((4-5)*6)-7 9 
Rice 2011 Price support 600.25 223.78 277,541.00 0.00 104,485,860.27 Ministry of Foreign 
Trade on the basis of 
data provided by 
CONARROZ 
 
1 Average annual price.  This price was established as a prec autionary measure in the context of the judicial proceeding brought  by producers against the State before the Administrative Court by 
means of Ruling No. 121-2011 of the said Court (Court File No. 10-4176-1027-CA). 
  
  G/AG/N/CRI/40 
Page 10 Supporting Table DS:7 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Costa Rica  
 
REPORTING PERIOD:  2011  
 
Product-Specific Aggregate Measurements of Support:  Other Product-Specific Support and Total Product-Specific AMS  
 
Description  
of basic  
product Calendar/ 
marketing  
year  
beginning… Measure  
type(s) Other  
product- 
specific 
budgetary 
outlays Other product-
specific support 
(include 
calculation 
details) Associated 
fees/levies Total other 
product- 
specific  
support Market price 
support 
(Supporting  
Table DS:5)   Data source 
   (US$) (US$) (US$) (US$) (US$)    
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
(4+5-6) 8 9 10 
(7+8+9) 11 
Rice 2011 Price support 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 104, 485,860.27 0.00 104,485,860.27 Ministry of Foreign 
Trade on the basis 
of data provided by 
CONARROZ 
 
__________