. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/CRI/57 
5 November 2007 
 (07-4800) 
Committee on Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
 
 
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   COSTA RICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved: 
2. Agency responsible:  Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería , Servicio Fitosanitario del 
Estado (SFE)  (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, State Phytosanitary Service) 
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):  International Classification for Standards (ICS) code 67.060 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
 Trading partners  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Reglamento Técnico 
RTCR 406: 2007 Arroz en Granza, especificac iones y métodos de análisis para la 
comercialización e industrialización  (Costa Rican Technical Regulation (RTCR) 
No. 406:2007:  Rice in the husk.  Specificati ons and analysis methods for marketing and 
processing) (26 pages, in Spanish). 
6. Description of content:  The notified Technical Regulation seeks to establish the quality 
and safety characteristics and analysis  methods required for long-grain rice 
(Oryza sativa L .) in the husk, domestically produced or imported and marketed for 
processing in Costa Rica. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ X ] food safety, [   ] animal health, [   ] plant protection,  
[ X ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [   ] protect territory from other damage from pests    
8. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission,  [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE),  [   ] International Plant Protection Convention,  [ X ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the 
appropriate reference and briefly identify deviations:  
 
  
 
   G/SPS/N/CRI/57 
Page 2  
 
  9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 
• 1999. Decreto ejecutivo  (Executive Decree) No. 27980-S.  Nivel Máximo de 
Aflatoxinas en Maíz, Arroz, Fríjol, Trigo, Oleaginosas y Leguminosas  (Maximum 
levels of aflatoxins in maize, rice, kidney beans, wheat, oil-seeds and pulses), published in Official Journal La Gaceta  No. 140 of 20 July 1999. 
• 1999.  Executive Decree No. 27630-MEIC-MAG-S.  Limites Máximos de Residuos 
de Plaguicidas en los Vegetales (Maximum residue limits for pesticides in 
vegetables), published in Official J ournal No. 33 of 17 February 1999. 
• 2001.  Executive Decree No. 29660-MEIC.  Metrología, Unidades Legales de 
Medida  (Metrology:  Legal units of measurement), published in Official Journal 
No. 151 of 8 August 2001. 
• 2001.  Executive Decree No. 29473-MEIC-MAG.  Procedimientos para la 
Aplicación de los Requisitos Fitosanita rios para la Importación de Plantas, 
Productos Vegetales y Otros Producto s Capaces de Transportar Plagas 
(Procedures for the implementation of phytosanitary requirements for the 
importation of plants, plant products and ot her plant material capable of harbouring 
pests), published in Official Journal No. 93 of 16 May 2001. 
• 2007.  Executive Decree No. 33949-MEIC.  Establece el Precio Mínimo de 
Compra del Industrial al Productor de A rroz y Precios Máximos de Venta, en 
Todas las Etapas de la Comercialización y sus Reformas  (Establishment of the 
minimum purchase price payable for rice by processors to producers and of 
maximum sales prices at all stages of the placing on the market, and amendments thereto), published in Official J ournal No. 172 of 7 September 2007. 
10. Proposed date of adoption:  Upon publication in the Official Journal La Gaceta  
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  Six months' validity following publication in the 
Official Journal 
12. Final date for comments:  60 days as from the date of notification 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [ X ] National notification 
authority, [   ] National enquiry point or address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:  
13. Texts available from:  [ X ] National notifi cation authority, [ X ] National enquiry 
point, or 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 70-3006 Barreal de Heredia Costa Rica Tel.:  (506) 260-8300, Ext. 2065 
Fax:  (506) 262-7831 
E-mail:  notificaciones@protecnet.go.cr Web site: http://www.protecnet.go.cr