WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/984 
23 November 2009 
 
 (09-5818) 
Committee on Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
 
 
 
NEW STRUCTURE OF THE COLOMBIAN 
AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE (ICA) 
 
Communication from Colombia  
 
  The following communication, received on 13 November 2009, is being circulated at the 
request of the delegation of Colombia
. 
 
_______________ 
 
 1. Colombia has been strengthening the institutional capacity of its SPS system so as to ensure 
that its international exports and domestically consumed food (whether produced in Colombia or 
imported) do not pose a health risk to consumers,  animals or plants.  Colombia is also making 
progress in the area of trade facilitation by bringing  its sanitary and phytosan itary measures into line 
with the guidelines and standards issued by the Wo rld Trade Organization's international reference 
bodies. 
2. The thorough overhaul of the Colombian SPS syst em, which has contributed to the definition 
of clear policies in this area and the injection of  substantial capacity-building resources, has formed 
the basis for the restructuring of the Colombia n Agricultural Institute (ICA), as defined in 
Decree No. 4765 of 18 December 2008.  The ICA' s new structure aims to fulfil the national 
Government's two main objectives, i.e. to strengthe n the country's health stat us and to ensure that 
Colombian agricultural products meet entry requirements for international markets. 
3. In this context, and with a view to becomi ng the Colombian agricultural sector's strategic 
partner, the ICA has defined the following key areas for meeting the new challenges:  animal health 
and inputs, plant health, agricultural inputs and seeds, safety in primary production, living modified 
organism management, market access, transparency, human capital, and efficiency. 
4. As part of the recent restructuring of the IC A, the number of technical departments dealing 
with livestock and plant-related matters has been increased from two to five.  These departments 
specialize in the following areas:  animal protecti on, plant protection, border protection, plant and 
veterinary analysis and diagnosis, and sanitary and phytosanitary regulation. 
5. The Sanitary and Phytosanitary Regulation Depa rtment is responsible for coordinating the 
issuing of measures that are adopted by the ICA in relation to animal and plant health, and safety in 
primary production, in accordance with the r ecommendations of the WTO Agreement on the 
Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary M easures and international reference bodies.  The 
Department's tasks include carrying out risk assessments with a view to providing the scientific and G/SPS/GEN/984 
Page 2  
 
  technical support required.  The Department's Tec hnical Directorate (TD) for International Affairs 
acts as an international contact point for issues within the competence of the ICA.
1 
                                                      
1 Further information is available at http://www.ica.gov.co  and from 
asuntos.internacionales@ica.gov.co .  
__________  G/SPS/GEN/984
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GENERAL MANAGEMENT 
LEGAL 
ADVISORY 
OFFICE  COMMUNICATIONS 
ADVISORY OFFICEINFORMATION 
TECHNOLOGY 
OFFICE INTERNAL 
CONTROL 
OFFICE Committee for 
Coordination of 
Internal Control and 
Quality Management 
Systems Judicial 
Conciliation 
and Defence 
Committee Staff 
Committee 
BORDER 
PROTECTION 
DEPARTMENT ANIMAL 
PROTECTION 
DEPARTMENT PLANT 
PROTECTION 
DEPARTMENT 
T.D. Logistics 
T.D. 
Quarantine T.D. Veterinary 
Safety and Inputs 
T.D. Animal 
Health 
T.D. 
Epidemiological 
Surveillance T.D. Agricultural 
Safety and Inputs
T.D. Plant Health
T.D. Seeds 
T.D. Phytosanitary 
Epidemiology and 
Surveillance ANALYSIS AND 
DIAGNOSTIC 
DEPARTMENT 
T.D. Veterinary 
Analysis and 
Diagnosis 
T.D. Agricultural 
Analysis and 
Diagnosis SANITARY AND 
PHYTOSANITARY 
REGULATION 
DEPARTMENT 
T.D. International 
Affairs 
T.D. Domestic 
Affairs 
T.D. Risk 
Assessment ADMINISTRATIVE 
AND FINANCIAL 
DEPARTMENT 
Financial 
Management Group
Contract 
Management Group
Human Talent 
Management Group
Disciplinary 
Proceedings Group
Goods and Services Management Group
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Section 
Magdalena 
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Section Sucre Section Bolivar Section Boyacá Section
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Section Chocó Section 
Nariño Section Norte de 
Santander 
Section  
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Section 
Guainia 
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Section EXECUTIVE BOARD 
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OFFICE