PANAMA – MEASURES CONCERNING THE IMPORTATION OF
CERTAIN PRODUCTS FROM COSTA RICA (DS599)
REPORT OF THE PANEL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Introduction.. 24
1.1
Complaint by Costa Rica. 24
1.2
Establishment and composition of the Panel 24
1.3
Panel proceedings. 24
1.3.1
General 24
1.3.2
Preliminary ruling. 25
1.3.3
Consultations with experts. 26
2 Factual aspects. 27
2.1
Measures at issue. 27
2.1.1
Introduction. 27
2.1.2
Measure concerning the importation of strawberries (Measure 1) 27
2.1.2.1
Description. 27
2.1.2.2
The relevant Panamanian regulations. 28
2.1.3
Measure concerning the importation of dairy and meat products (Measure 2) 29
2.1.3.1
Description. 29
2.1.3.2
The relevant Panamanian regulations. 29
2.1.4
Measure concerning the importation of pineapples (Measure 3) 30
2.1.4.1
Description. 30
2.1.4.2
The relevant Panamanian regulations. 30
2.1.5
Measure concerning the importation of plantains and bananas (Measure 4) 31
2.1.5.1
Description. 31
2.1.5.2
The relevant Panamanian regulations. 31
2.2
Other factual aspects. 32
2.2.1
Introduction. 32
2.2.2
Pests and pesticide. 32
2.2.2.1
Introduction. 32
2.2.2.2
The pesticide oxamyl 32
2.2.2.3
The pink hibiscus mealybug pest (Maconellicoccus hirsutus
(Green)) 33
2.2.2.4
The Foc TR4 pest (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4) 34
2.2.3
International standards and guidelines cited in this dispute. 36
2.2.3.1
Introduction. 36
2.2.3.2
The Codex Alimentarius Commission and the Codex Alimentarius. 36
2.2.3.3
The Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention and
International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures. 38
3 Parties' requests for findings and
recommendations. 40
4 Arguments of the parties. 43
5 Arguments of the third parties. 43
6 INTERIM REVIEW.. 43
6.1
Introduction. 43
6.2
Measure 1. 44
6.3
Measure 2. 46
6.3.1
Content of Measure 2. 46
6.3.2
Provisions of the SPS Agreement applicable to Measure 2 and the claim under
Article 5.6 of the SPS Agreement 46
6.3.3
Claim under Article 2.3 of the SPS Agreement 47
6.4
Measures 3 and 4. 47
6.5
Measure 3. 48
6.6
Measure 4. 48
7 FINDINGS. 50
7.1
The Panel's terms of reference. 50
7.1.1
Preliminary ruling. 50
7.1.2
Whether the procedures challenged by Costa Rica in relation to Measures 1,
3, and 4 are within the Panel's terms of reference. 50
7.1.2.1
Main arguments of the parties. 51
7.1.2.2
Evaluation by the Panel 52
7.1.2.3
Conclusion on whether Costa Rica identified the procedures it is
challenging in relation to Measures 1, 3, and 4 in its panel request 57
7.2
Order of analysis. 57
7.2.1
Order of analysis of the agreements cited by Costa Rica. 58
7.2.2
Order of analysis of the claims under the SPS Agreement 58
7.3
Measure concerning the importation of strawberries (Measure 1) 60
7.3.1
Claims under the SPS Agreement 60
7.3.1.1
Whether Measure 1 is a sanitary or phytosanitary measure that falls within
the scope of the SPS Agreement 60
7.3.1.2
Claims under Articles 5.1, 5.2, 2.2 and 5.7 of the SPS Agreement 64
7.3.1.3
Claims under Articles 5.6 and 2.2 of the SPS Agreement 119
7.3.1.4
Claims under Article 3.1 of the SPS Agreement 135
7.3.1.5
Claims under Article 7 and Annex B of the SPS Agreement 138
7.3.1.6
Claims under Articles 1.1 and 2.1 of the SPS Agreement 139
7.3.2
Claims under the GATT 1994 and the Agreement on Agriculture. 140
7.3.2.1
Main arguments of the parties. 140
7.3.2.2
Assessment by the Panel 140
7.4
Measure concerning the importation of dairy and meat products (Measure 2) 141
7.4.1
Content of Measure 2. 142
7.4.1.1
Main arguments of the parties. 142
7.4.1.2
Assessment by the Panel 145
7.4.2
Claims under the SPS Agreement 161
7.4.2.1
Whether Measure 2 is a sanitary or phytosanitary measure that falls within
the scope of the SPS Agreement 161
7.4.2.2
Provisions of the SPS Agreement invoked by Costa Rica and applicable
to Measure 2. 164
7.4.2.3
Claims under Article 8 of and Annex C to the SPS Agreement 169
7.4.2.4
Claims under Articles 2.3 and 5.5 of the SPS Agreement 210
7.4.2.5
Claims under Articles 5.6 and 2.2 of the SPS Agreement 233
7.4.2.6
Claims under Article 7 and Annex B of the SPS Agreement 243
7.4.2.7
Claims under Articles 1.1 and 2.1 of the SPS Agreement 244
7.4.3
Claims under the GATT 1994 and the Agreement on Agriculture. 244
7.4.3.1
Main arguments of the parties. 244
7.4.3.2
Assessment by the Panel 245
7.5
Measure concerning the importation of pineapples (Measure 3) 246
7.5.1
Claims under the SPS Agreement 246
7.5.1.1
Whether Measure 3 is an SPS measure within the scope of the
SPS Agreement 246
7.5.1.2
Claims under Articles 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 2.2 and 5.7 of the SPS Agreement 248
7.5.1.3
Claims under Article 2.3 of the SPS Agreement 282
7.5.1.4
Claims under Article 5.5 of the SPS Agreement 290
7.5.1.5
Claims under Articles 5.6 and 2.2 of the SPS Agreement 290
7.5.1.6
Claims under Article 3.1 of the SPS Agreement 302
7.5.1.7
Claims under Article 7 and Annex B of the SPS Agreement 303
7.5.1.8
Claims under Articles 1.1 and 2.1 of the SPS Agreement 304
7.5.2
Claims under the GATT 1994 and the Agreement on Agriculture. 305
7.5.2.1
Main arguments of the parties. 305
7.5.2.2
Assessment by the Panel 305
7.6
Measure concerning the importation of plantains and bananas (Measure 4) 306
7.6.1
Claims under the SPS Agreement 307
7.6.1.1
Whether Measure 4 is a sanitary or phytosanitary measure that falls within
the scope of the SPS Agreement 307
7.6.1.2
Claims under Articles 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 2.2 and 5.7 of the SPS Agreement 320
7.6.1.3
Claims under Articles 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 2.2 of the SPS Agreement 333
7.6.1.4
Claims under Articles 5.6 and 2.2. 336
7.6.1.5
Claims under Article 3.1 of the SPS Agreement 343
7.6.1.6
Claims under Article 7 of and Annex B of the SPS Agreement 345
7.6.1.7
Claims under Articles 1.1 and 2.1 of the SPS Agreement 346
7.6.2
Claims under the GATT 1994 and the Agreement on Agriculture. 347
7.6.2.1
Main arguments of the parties. 347
7.6.2.2
Assessment by the Panel 347
8 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION.. 348
APPENDIX 1 - CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS RELATED TO THE
RENEWAL OF THE SANITARY APPROVALS OF THE 18 COSTA RICAN
ESTABLISHMENTS IN QUESTION (MEASURE 2). 353