. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/CRI/26
13 May 2002
(02-2615)
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:  Ministry of Agriculture and Livest ock, Animal Health Directorate
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).  Meat products of bovine animals, goats, swine, horses, sheep and other animals
authorised for domestic consumption and export in various forms (fresh, frozen, boneless and
as sausages)  by the Costa Rican Ministry of  Agriculture and Livestock.  Regions or
countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Health and Veterinary Inspection
Regulation on Abattoirs and Meat Production and Processing.  Executive Decree
No. 29588-MAG-S, published in Supplement No. 120 to the Official Journal "La Gaceta" of
22 June 2001 (11 pages)
5. Description of content:  The purpose of this Regulation is to establish the physical, sanitary,
operational and environmental protection require ments for abattoirs, boning plants, sausage
plants, cold-storage plants and establishments  involved with the transport, storage and
retailing of meat products and the laws governing such activities.
Chapter I Purpose and scope
Chapter II DefinitionsChapter III General provisionsChapter IV Authorization and area of competenceChapter V Official numbering of establishmentsChapter VI Structural conditions of establishmentsChapter VII Conditions for inspection staff
Chapter VIII Staff installations and facilities
Chapter IX Water supply and qualityChapter X Storage of packing and other materialsChapter XI Refrigeration and freezing chambersChapter XII Physical and sanitary conditions of abattoirsChapter XIII Transport of live cattleChapter XIII Transport of meat and meat productsChapter XIV StaffChapter XV Cleaning and disinfectionChapter XVI Slaughter and processing operationsG/SPS/N/CRI/26
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5. Description of content:   (cont'd)
Chapter XVIII Ante-mortem inspection
Chapter XX Post-mortem inspectionChapter XX Destination and marking of meatChapter XXI Grounds for seizureChapter XXII Horses and horsemeatChapter XXIII Export establishmentsChapter XXIV Implementation of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
((HACCP) system
Chapter XXV Classification of abattoirsChapter XXVI Responsibilities and duties of veterinary inspectorsChapter XXVII Physical and sanitary conditions of boning plants, retail areas and
cold-storage plants
Chapter XXVIII Sausage plantsChapter XXX Penalties
Chapter XXXI Derogations and validity
6. Objective and rationale: [     ] food safety,  [  X ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[ X ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,
[    ] protect territory from other damage from pests
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Health and
Veterinary Inspection Regulation on Abattoirs and Meat Production and Processing.  Decree
No. 29588-MAG-S  (available in Spanish).
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Immediately
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  In force
11. Final date for comments:
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [  X ] National notification
authority, [  X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:
12. Texts available from: [     ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: