phytosanitary requirements for potatoes garlic and onions in march 2001 argentina provided information on the bolivarian republic of venezuelas import restrictions on argentine garlic because of urocystis cepulae that had been imposed since 1997. according to the terms of the andean pact no quarantine measures had been adopted against argentina. regarding potatoes argentina had begun efforts to gain access to the venezuelan market in 1996 and had provided the necessary information for a risk assessment. argentina expressed concern at the seeming lack of will on the part of the bolivarian republic of venezuela to make progress on both issues. in addition argentina was concerned about a lack of coherence in the application of resolution 431 of the mandatory sanitary and phytosanitary standards of the andean community which it would raise with the andean community. the bolivarian republic of venezuela explained that there was no lack of will to move forward on these issues. regarding garlic the administrative process to set u the necessary protocols was ongoing. with respect to potatoes the bolivarian republic of venezuela believed that argentine and andean community phytosanitary standards were not compatible. colombia requested argentina to submit its concerns to the andean community. in july 2001 argentina informed the committee that bilateral meetings had been held and although the problem had not been completely solved the bolivarian republic of venezuela had demonstrated a will to find a solution. in october 2001 argentina requested a technical reply from the bolivarian republic of venezuela to the questions raised during a recent bilateral meeting on the sanitary restrictions on potato imports so as to facilitate the start of trading in this product. the bolivarian republic of venezuela replied that it was seeking to prevent the introduction of pests that existed in argentina but were exotic to the bolivarian republic of venezuela. the sanitary services were evaluating the appropriateness of alternative methods such as pest free areas that would meet argentinas legitimate trade concerns and the bolivarian republic of venezuelas appropriate level of protection. in march 2002 argentina informed that bilateral negotiations with the venezuelan health authorities had taken place but in the protocols agreed for importation on potatoes garlic and onion the matter of certification and inspection visits by venezuelan officials was left outstanding. in view of the seasonal nature of these commodities argentina was concerned that if the inspection visits did not take place soon no exports would be possible before 2003. in response the bolivarian republic of venezuela noted that they were awaiting a proposal from argentina on a convenient date for the inspection visit. in june 2002 argentina stated that there had been no progress in resolving the problems arising from the bolivarian republic of venezuelas restrictions on potatoes garlic and onions. argentina was waiting for the onsite visit which the bolivarian republic of venezuela indicated was necessary before trade could resume. the bolivarian republic of venezuela stated that some revisions to its requirements had been made and it was now organizing a technical visit to examine the pest surveillance systems in argentine producing areas with the hope of finding a solution to the problem. in april 2003 argentina informed the committee that venezuelan technical experts had visited argentina to verify its claims of freedom from onion smut urocystis cepulae . discussions had entered the final phase and the argentine authorities awaited the publication of the venezuelan expert report which should allow the resolution of this issue. the bolivarian republic of venezuela reported that bilateral consultations with argentina had taken place prior to the committee meeting and that the expert report should be available soon. in june 2003 argentina reported that it still had not received the final rep