. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/325
17 June 2002
(02-3357)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  Spanish
CUBA - RESTRICTIONS ON THE ENTRY OF COOKED SAUSAGES
AND RAW AND COOKE D SALTED MEAT DUE TO
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE
Submission by Argentina
A. BACKGROUND
− On 27 December 2001, the National Agriculture and Food Quality and Health Service
(SENASA) submitted a request through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for healthrequirements for the export of these products.
− On 11 January 2002, SENASA received the export requirements established by the Cuban
Institute of Veterinary Medicine (IMV).
− On 6 March 2002, SENASA submitted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a health
certificate proposal for the export of these products.
− On 20 March 2002, SENASA received a reply from the Cuban IMV, informing it that the
import into Cuba of both raw and cooked sausages from Argentina was prohibited.
− On 25 March 2002, SENASA sent a note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Director
of the Cuban IMV, Dr. Emerio Serrano, with explanations by SENASA's technical divisionsguaranteeing that the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus would not be transmitted as a
result of the processes which these products undergo and adding that its proposed certificationfully complies with the rules established in th e International Animal Health Code of the
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
− On 25 April 2002, SENASA received a reply from the Cuban IMV, through the Argentine
Embassy, informing it that Cuba's position regarding the ban on the import of meat and meatproducts of Argentine origin is consistent with the policy that Cuba has always maintained in
risk analysis work of aiming at the non-existent zero risk. Cuba only permits the import of
bovine meat from countries free of fo ot-and-mouth disease without vaccination.
− At the last OIE plenary session, held in Paris in May, Dr. Serrano reasserted Cuba's position
on the ban on the import of products of animal origin from countries with foot-and-mouth
disease. Dr. Serrano added that Cuba always insisted on zero risk when importing meat into
its market, i.e., from countries free of FMD without vaccination.G/SPS/GEN/325
Page 2
B. CONSISTENCY OF THE BAN WITH THE OBLIGATIONS ESTABLISHED IN THE SPS AGREEMENT
This ban on imports is inconsistent with the obligations established within the framework of
the multilateral trading system, in particular with commitments under the WTO Agreement on the
Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement).
This inconsistency stems from the fact that th e measure in question is stricter than the
international reference parameters (the OIE International Animal Health Code) and lacks sufficient
scientific grounds and risk analysis to justify it. Moreover, it is disproportionate in relation to the
established objectives.  As a result, it is inconsistent with the provisions of Articles 2.2, 3.3, 5.1, 5.6, 7
and other related Articles of the SPS Agreement.
In view of the above considerations, Argentina formally requests that the Cuban authorities
lift the restriction imposed on Argentine exports of cooked sausages and raw and cooked salted meat
due to foot-and-mouth disease or, failing this, provide sufficient scientific evidence to justify the
additional protection established in relation to the international rules of reference.
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