. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SG/N/6/CRI/2 
31 May 2012  
 
(12-2865) 
Committee on Safeguards Original:   Spanish 
  
 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12.1(A) OF THE AGREEMENT 
ON SAFEGUARDS ON INITIATION OF AN INVESTIGATION 
AND THE REASONS FOR IT 
 
COSTA RICA 
 
(Pounded Rice) 
   The following communication, dated 15 May 2012, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Costa Rica. 
 
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   Costa Rica hereby submits to the Committ ee on Safeguards the following notification under 
Article 12.1(a) of the Agreement on Safeguards regard ing the initiation of an investigation procedure 
with a view to the application of a safe guard measure to imports of pounded rice. 
 
1. Date when the investigation was initiated 
 The Resolution initiating the investigation w as published in Digital Supplement No. 59 to 
Costa Rican Official Journal La Gaceta  No. 87 of 7 May 2012.  Thus, in accordance with the terms of 
this Resolution, the investiga tion was initiated on 8 May 2012. 
 
2. Product subject to the investigation 
 The product subject to the investigation is  pounded rice, imported into Costa Rica under 
Central American Harmonized System (SAC) tariff subheading 1006.30.90.90:  "Other". 
 
3. Reasons for initiation of the investigation 
 On 8 March 2012, the National Association of  Rice Millers (ANINSA), on behalf of the 
domestic pounded rice industry, submitte d an application for an investigation with a view to the 
application of a general safeguard measure pursu ant to the provisions of Article XIX of the 
GATT 1994, the Agreement on Safeguards and the Central American Regulations on Safeguard 
Measures.   The Trade Defence Bureau of the Ministry  of Economy and Trade considered that the 
application submitted by ANINSA met all of the requirements prescribed in Article 10 of the 
Central American Regulations on Safeguard Measures and contained sufficient evidence to justify the 
initiation of an investigation procedure.  The analys is provided in the application indicates that there 
has been an ongoing increase in imports in absolute and relative terms, in particular as of 2009, and 
that this increase is threatening to cause ser ious injury to the domestic industry. 
 G/SG/N/6/CRI/2 
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  4. Contact information 
 For any questions on the procedure referred to above, please contact Mrs Odalys Vega Calvo 
by e-mail ( defensacomercial@meic.go.cr ) or telephone (506) 2291-1865. 
 
5. Deadlines and procedures 
(i) Presentation of evidence and views 
 
 Pursuant to Article 14(j) of the Central Am erican Regulations on Safeguard Measures, the 
parties will have a period of 15 calendar days as from the date of notification of the initiation of the 
investigation to submit statements and any ot her evidence pertaining to the initiation of the 
investigation. 
  In accordance with Article 15 of the said Re gulations, the parties will have a period of 
45 calendar days, which may be extended by a maximum of a further 30 days, in which to submit the evidence requested in the form of questionnaires. 
 
(ii) Deadlines and procedures for Members and exporters to identify themselves as 
interested parties, if so required, to participate in the investigation 
 
 Pursuant to paragraph 121 of the Resoluti on initiating the investigation, anyone who 
considers themselves to be an interested party to the proceedings has a period of eight working days 
as from the date of publication of the Resolution in th e Official Journal to app ear in person before the 
investigating authority and demonstrate that they ha ve an interest in the case and that they fulfil the 
requirements to be considered as such.  
(iii) Date of an intended public hear ing as provided for in Article 3.1 
 
 Pursuant to Article 24 of the Central Ameri can Regulations on Safeguard Measures, during 
the investigation procedure the investigating author ity will notify the parties of the holding of a public 
hearing 15 calendar days in advance.  
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