. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/CRI/29 
17 February 2004 
 (04-0643) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures  Original:   Spanish  
   
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   COSTA RICA
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible:   
Ministry of the Economy, Industry and Trade 
Technical Regulation Body 
Tel.: (506) 297-1439 and 235-2700, ext. 265 
E-mail:  crotc@meic.go.cr Web site: www.meic.go.cr
 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Fresh tomatoes for consumption (tariff number 0702.00.00.00) 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All 
parties trading such products with Costa Rica. 
5. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Costa Rican Technical Regulation 
RTCR___:2003, Fresh Tomatoes for Consumption  (12 pages, in Spanish). 
6. Description of content:   This draft Technical Regulation defines the quality, safety, 
packaging and labelling requirements for domestic and imported fresh tomatoes 
(Lycopersicon esculentum  Mill.) for consumption in Costa Rica.  This measure has also 
been notified under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade.  
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, gu ideline 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:    
9. Relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:  María del Milagro 
Cerdas Araya, National Production Council (CNP)/University of Costa Rica (UCR) 
Agreement, June 2003, "Estudio de Respaldo para la Modificación del Reglamento de la 
Norma de Tomate (No. 18814-MEIC-1989), Ev aluación de la Firmeza de Frutos de 
Tomate en Tres Grados de Madurez" (Supporting study for the Amendment to the Regulation pertaining to the Tomato Standa rd (No. 18814-MEIC-1989), Assessment of the 
firmness of tomato fruit at three stages of maturity), CNP Laboratory and UCR Post- 
Harvest Laboratory studies; Geovanny Ca rmona Villalobos, Nati onal Production Council
 G/SPS/N/CRI/29 
Page 2  
 
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: (cont'd) (CNP), "Rol 
de la Temperatura en el Almacenamiento de Productos Frescos" (The role of temperature in the storage of fresh products), December 2001; McGregor, B. M., 1989, "Tropical 
Products Transport Handbook", United States De partment of Agriculture (USDA), Office 
of Transportation, Agricultural Handbook No. 668;  Executive Decree No. 24907-MEIC NCR 230:1995, "Productos Hortícolas Frescos.  Muestreo" (Fresh horticultural products. 
Sampling), published in the Official Journal, La Gaceta , No. 25 of 5 February 1996;  
Executive Decree No. 26012-MEIC RTCR 100:1997, "Etiquetado de los Alimentos 
Preenvasados" (Labelling of pre-packaged foods), published in La Gaceta  No. 91 of 
14 May 1997 and the revised version thereo f;   Executive Decree No. 22268-MEIC NCR 
148:1993, "Metrología de Contenido Neto de Preempacados" (Metrology: Net contents of 
pre-packaged goods), published in La Gaceta  No. 132 of 13 July 1993;  Law 5292, 
"Sistema Internacional de Unidades de Medid as" (International System of Units (SI)),  
published in the Collection of Laws and Decrees, 1993 (second half), volume 1;  Executive 
Decree No. 29660-MEIC RTCR 26:2000, "Metrología, Unidades Legales de Medida" 
(Metrology: Legal units of measurement), published in La Gaceta  No. 151 of 
8 August 2001. 
10. Proposed date of adoption:   To be determined 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:   Upon publication in the Official Journal La Gaceta . 
12. Final date for comments:   60 days as of 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 notification authority, [   ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: 
Ministerio de Comercio Exterior 
Dirección de Aplicación de Acuerdos Comerciales Internacionales 
Tel.: (506) 256-7111, ext. 461 Web site:  www.comex.go.cr
 
E-mail:  aporras@comex.go.cr