WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
G/SPS/N/CRI/76
11 June 2009
(09-2814)
Original: Spanish
NOTIFICATION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Notifying Member: COSTA RICA
If applicable, name of local government involved:
Agency responsible: Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, Servicio Nacional de Salud
Animal, SENASA (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, National Animal Health Service)
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):
Live cattle
Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:
[X]
All trading partners, or
[]
Specific regions or countries:
Title of the notified document: Reglamento para el Funcionamiento y Comercialización de
Ganado en Pie en Subasta y Otorgamiento del Certificado Veterinario de Operación. Decreto
Nº 34976-MAG-MEIC-SP (Decree No. 34976-MAG-MEIC-SP: Regulation governing the
operations of cattle auction establishments and the sale by auction of live cattle, and the issue of
the veterinary certificate of operation), published in Official Journal La Gaceta No. 21 of
30 January 2009.
Text available online at:
http://www.senasa.go.cr/Documentos/Decretos/34976-MAG-MEIC-SP.pdf
Full text of notified document:
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2009/sps/CRI/09_2002_00_s.pdf
Language: Spanish Number of pages: 10
Description of content: The notified Regulation harmonizes the procedures for live cattle
auctions in order to secure the greatest well-being for the animals, to improve disease
surveillance and control and to regulate the issue of veterinary certificates of operation to cattle
auction establishments. Sale by auction is prohibited as a marketing mechanism for swine.
Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, [X] protect
humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from
pests.
Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:
[]
Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex standard or
related text)
[]
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic Animal
Health Code, chapter number)
[]
International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM N°)
[X]
None
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the international
standard:
Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:

Executive Decree (Decreto Ejecutivo) No. 32501-MAG-MEIC-SP of
23 February 2005, published in Official Journal La Gaceta No. 150 of
5 August 2005 (text repealed by the notified Decree).

Executive Decree (Decreto Ejecutivo) No. 34976-MAG-MEIC-SP, published
in Official Journal La Gaceta No. 21 of 30 January 2009.
Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy): Upon publication in the Official Journal La Gaceta
Propose date of publication (dd/mm/yy):
Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication, and/or
(dd/mm/yy): Upon publication in Official Journal La Gaceta No. 21 on 30 January 2009
[ ] Trade facilitating measure
Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification
. /.
13.
and/or (dd/mm/yy): Not applicable
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ ] National Notification Authority,
[ ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of
other body:
Texts available from: [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.
Address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería
Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA)
Centro de Información y Notificación en Medidas Sanitarias y Fitosanitarias
Apartado Postal 70-3006
Barreal de Heredia, Costa Rica
Tel.: +(506) 2260-8300, Ext. 2065
Fax: +(506) 2262-7831
E-mail: notificaciones@protecnet.go.cr