RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SPS/W/39
6December 1995
ORGANIZATION(95-3963)
Original: Spanish Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
NORMATIVE FRAMEWORK AND PROCEDURE FOR THE PREPARATION
AND ADOPTION OFSANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES
Submission byChile totheMeeting of15-16 November 1995
I. INTRODUCTION
Thisdocument setsoutthegeneral features ofthenormative framework forsanitary and
phytosanitary measures inChile, withasummary description oftheprocess ofelaboration andadoption
ofsanitary andphytosanitary measures inthecountry.
II. PREPARATION OFSANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY REGULATIONS
TheExecutive andtheLegislative Branches mayputforward draftlawsoramendments to
theexisting legislation; alllawsmustbeapproved bytheCongress andtransmitted tothePresident
forenactment andpublication inthecountry 'sOfficial Journal.
InChile, theformulation oftechnical regulations andissuance ofResolutions isgoverned by
various laws, under which thepublic services aregiven powers andprocedures areestablished toensure
thattheabove-mentioned technical Regulations andResolutions aredesigned toprovide sanitary and
phytosanitary protection.
Inoperational terms, Chilean sanitary andphytosanitary regulations areestablished through
theformulation ofreasoned Resolutions issued bythecompetent public services inaccordance with
theirpowers under theexisting legislation.
Before aResolution isissued, atechnical, legalandadministrative analysis iscarried out,and
where necessary information meetings areheldwiththesector involved before theResolution isissued.
Resolutions arepublished intheOfficial Journal.
III. CHILEAN NORMATIVE FRAMEWORK
Three entities havepowers withrespect tosanitary andphytosanitary measures.
(a) TheMinistry ofAgriculture, through theAgriculture andLivestock Service, isresponsible
foradministering regulations concerning:
- animal health andplanthealth measures applied toimports andexports ofanimals and
plants andtheirproducts;
- animal andplant health measures designed toreduce theriskofentry, establishment
orspread ofplant pests anddiseases, animal diseases andtheirvectors.G/SPS/W/39
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(b) TheMinistry ofHealth, through theEnvironmental Programme Department, isresponsible
foradministering regulations concerning:
- sanitary measures toprotect human health applied toimported andlocally-produced
foodstuffs aswellasfoodconsumed inthecountry;
- sanitary measures designed toavoid orreduce theriskofentry, establishment orspread
ofepidemics and/or vectors ofhuman diseases;
(c) TheMinistry oftheEconomy, Development andReconstruction, through theNational Fisheries
Service, isresponsible foradministering regulations concerning:
- sanitary measures inthefisheries sector applied toimports andexports of
hydrobiological resources;
- measures designed toreduce theriskofentry, establishment orspread ofpests or
diseases andtheirvectors forhydrobiological resources.
IV. SYSTEM OFSANITARY PROTECTION, DIAGNOSIS AND SURVEILLANCE IN
AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES OFCHILE
Thesystem usedbyChile toprotect thehealth oftheagriculture, forestry andfisheries sector
comprises thefollowing main elements:
- determination ofthenecessary sanitary andphytosanitary measures;
- evaluation ofcompliance withsanitary andphytosanitary requirements byexporting
countries;
- inspection, testing and/or analysis ofproducts onentering Chile tocheck compliance
withthemeasures, including aperiod ofpost-entry quarantine where appropriate;
- asurveillance system tomonitor thesanitary situation inChile anddetect theentry
ofnewpests anddiseases ingood time;
- response systems andstrategies toeradicate orcontrol newpests anddiseases.
V. DETERMINATION OFSANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES APPLICABLE
TOTHE ENTRY OFANIMALS AND PLANTS AND THEIR PRODUCTS
Thecountry seeks toachieve thefullest possible harmonization withinternational sanitary and
phytosanitary standards, following theirguidelines inamanner compatible withthecountry 'ssanitary
andphytosanitary protection.
Theprocess begins withtheimport application, followed bytherequest forinformation in
order tocarry outariskanalysis taking account oftheplace oforigin andtheproduct, soastolay
down theentry conditions. When agricultural andforestry products reach thecountry, theyareallowed
toenterfollowing inspection, verification ofcompliance withrequirements andacheck ofthesanitary
certification issued bytheexporting country inconformity withtherelevant standards ofinternational
scientific organizations.G/SPS/W/39
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Inthecaseofplant andanimal health matters, theAgriculture andLivestock Service ofthe
Ministry ofAgriculture isresponsible.
Inmatters relating tohuman health, theEnvironmental Programme Department oftheMinistry
ofHealth isresponsible.
Inthecaseofhydrobiological resources, theNational Fisheries Service oftheMinistry ofthe
Economy isresponsible.
Theabove-mentioned entities areresponsible forcarrying outtheriskanalysis intheareas
forwhich theyareresponsible.
VI. SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATION
Inorder toguarantee thehealthiness ofexported products, thecompetent bodies certify their
stateinaccordance withtheguidelines forcertification laiddown by:
- theSecretariat oftheFAO International Plant Protection Convention relating toplant
health, certification being carried outbytheAgriculture andLivestock Service;
- animal health certification inaccordance withtheOffice International desEpizooties,
thiscertification being carried outbytheAgriculture andLivestock Service, andby
theNational Fisheries Service inthecaseofhydrobiological products;
- certification offoodsafety forhuman health inaccordance withtheprovisions ofthe
Codex Alimentarius, theresponsible entity being theMinistry ofHealth, which is
responsible forauthorizing foodproduction establishments tooperate inChile.
VII. PLANT AND ANIMAL HEALTH INFORMATION
TheAgriculture andLivestock Service supplies information tothecorresponding international
organizations ontheplant andanimal health situation inthecountry.
Anyimportant change iscommunicated bytheprocedures established byFAOforplanthealth
andOIEforanimal health.
Atthesame time, ifanyproblem arises concerning theappearance ofimportant pests and/or
diseases, therelevant information issentnotonlytotheabove-mentioned international scientific
organizations butalsotoChile'strading partners.
Inthecaseofrecognition ofpest-free ordisease-free countries orareas, Chile complies with
therequirements laiddown bytheimporting country forverifying suchconditions.
Hence, thecorresponding information isprovided, questionnaires areanswered andinspection
visits takeplace inthecountry, thesebeing some ofthemainprocedures toreassure importing countries
astothesanitary situation inChile.
VIII. MEASURES TOENSURE FOOD SAFETY
TheMinistry ofHealth isresponsible forsetting tolerance levels andchecking residues of
agrochemical products infoodstuffs consumed inthecountry, whether locally produced orimported.
Forthispurpose itbasically usesthestandards laiddown intheCodex Alimentarius, andinspects foodsG/SPS/W/39
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forthepossible presence ofillegal contaminants, veterinary pharmaceutical products, agrochemical
residues, microbiological pathogens andfoodadditives andcolouring agents.
TheAgriculture andLivestock Service oftheMinistry ofAgriculture supplements thisaction
through thefollowing Regulations:
- Inthecaseofagrochemicals, theAgriculture andLivestock Service establishes the
standards forthemanufacture, marketing anduseofagricultural pesticides andmay
fortechnical orsanitary reasons regulate, restrict orprohibit themanufacture, import,
distribution, saleanduseofagricultural pesticides. Under theexisting provisions,
products must beentered intheRegister ofPesticides keptbytheAgriculture and
Livestock Service. Inthecaseofhousehold pesticides, theMinistry ofHealth is
responsible forauthorization andregistration.
- Inthecaseofpharmaceutical products andhormones theAgriculture andLivestock
Service establishes rulesandstandards, andthereareprohibitions ontheuseofspecific
products.
IX. RELATIONSHIPWITHTHEWTOCOMMITTEEONSANITARYANDPHYTOSANITARY
MEASURES
(a) Enquiry point
TheAgriculture andLivestock Service oftheMinistry ofAgriculture isthecontact point for
information onsanitary andphytosanitary matters setupunder theWTO Agreement onSanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures.
Address: Avenida Bulnes 140,Santiago, Chile
Telephone: 5626712323 -5626723635
Fax: 5626721812 -5626717419
(b) Official notification service
TheAgriculture andLivestock Service isalsotheofficially designated entity forcommunicating
notifications ofsanitary andphytosanitary standards inthemanner established totheWTO Committee
onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures.