AC/INF 7

FAO/WHO Regional Conference on Food Safety for the Americas and the Caribbean San José, , 6–9 December 2005

Conference Information

1. Date and venue

The Conference will take place from 6 to 9 December 2005 at the:

Hotel Tryp Corobicí Sabana Norte sobre la Autopista General Cañas Tel: (506) 2328122 Fax: (506) 2316063 / (506) 2315834 Email: [email protected], [email protected] Website: www.solmelia.com

2. Getting there

The Hotel Tryp Corobicí is situated 15 minutes from Juan Santamaría International Airport and only a few blocks from the city centre. It has its own transportation service from and to the airport. For more information, please contact the e-mail address.

3. Registration

The registration of participants will take place in the Room of the Hotel Tryp Corobicí from 17:00 to 19:00 on 5 December 2005 and from 08:00 to 08:45 on 6 December. Participants will be given a name badge on receipt of their completed registration form and are kindly requested to wear their badge at all times during the Conference.

4. Internet Café

An Internet Café will be available to all participants in the Gondola Room of the Hotel Tryp Corobicí. The cost will be included the local contribution to the Conference.

5. First aid/hospitals

First aid facilities will be available during Conference hours. Participants should contact any of the following medical centres for emergencies outside Conference hours:

Emergencies: 911 Hospital México: 242-6700 / 232-5504 / 232-1285 Hospital San Juan de Dios: 257-6282 Hospital Cima San José: 208-1000 Hospital Clínica Bíblica: 522-1000 Hospital Clínica Católica: 246-3000 / 222-0986 - 2 - 6. Correspondence

All correspondence concerning local arrangements for the Conference should be addressed to:

Sra. Isabel Cristina Araya Oficial de Enlace en Costa Rica Telephone: (506) 235-2700 ext 203 Fax: (506) 297-1439 Email: [email protected]

Sr. Orlando Muñoz Coordinador Técnico Telephone: (506) 235-2700 ext 248 Fax: (506) 297-1439 Email: [email protected]

7. Accommodation

The following hotels are located near the Conference venue. Rates are subject to change and should be confirmed at the time of booking. Participants are advised to make early reservations by contacting the e-mail address given for each hotel. . Hotel Rate per night (US$) Distance from Conference hotel Tryp Corobicí **** Tel: (506) 2328122 Standard single/double:$75 + 3.45% tax Fax: (506) 2316063 Includes breakfast and transportation Conference venue www.solmelia.com airport/hotel/airport Email: [email protected] Meliá Cariari ***** Standard single: $90 + 16.39% tax 10 km Tel: (506) 2328122 Standard double: $95 + 16.39% tax Fax: (506) 2392804 Royal Service single: $135 + 16.39% tax www.solmelia.com Royal Service double: $140 + 16.39% tax Email: Includes breakfast and transportation [email protected] airport/hotel/airport, plus return transportation to the Conference venue San José Palacio ***** Standard single: $85 + 16.39% tax 2 km Tel: (506) 2202034 Standard double: $90 + 16.39% tax Fax: (506) 2202036 Executive single: $100 + 16.39% www.barcelo.com Executive double: $105 + 16.39% tax Email: [email protected] Includes breakfast and transportation airport/hotel/airport Best Western Irazú **** Premier single: $79 + 16.39% tax 2.5 km Tel: (506) 2324811 Premier double/triple: $86 + 16.39% tax Fax: (506) 2328780 Standard single: $62 + 16.39% tax www.grupomarta.com Standard double/triple: $69 + 16.39% tax Email: [email protected] Includes breakfast and transportation airport/hotel/airport Hotel Torremolinos *** Standard single/double: $55 + 16.39% tax 0.4 km Tel: (506) 2482323 Includes breakfast and transportation Fax: (506) 2550919 airport/ hotel/airport www.occidentalhotels.com Email: [email protected]

- 3 - Barceló Parque del Lago **** Standard single: $60 + 16.39% tax 0.6 km Tel: (506) 2578787 Standard double: $65 + 16.39% tax Fax: (506) 2231617 Junior suite: $85 + 16.39% tax www.parquedellago.com Includes traditional breakfast, internet and Email:[email protected] transportation airport/hotel/airport [email protected] Apartotel Cristina *** Standard Suite single/double: $55 + 0.8 km Tel: (506) 2200453 16.39% tax Fax: (506) 2202096 Duplex Suite (2 rooms and 1 bathroom): www.apartotelcristina.com $74 + 16.39% tax Includes local calls, internet, electronic safety box in each apartment and breakfast Does not include transportation airport/hotel/airport.

N.B. More accommodation options and a city map are available at: www.vistecostarica.com

8. Meals

Breakfast is included in the corporate rate agreed with the above hotels. The host country has the pleasure to offer lunch and coffee breaks on 6, 7 and 9 December. Participants will make their own arrangements for other meals.

9. Conference languages

The Conference will take place in Spanish and English with simultaneous interpretation.

10. General information

The Republic of Costa Rica covers 51 100 km2 in the heart of the Central American isthmus, with Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. It has a widely varying climate and main regions that include mountain ranges with volcanoes, highland plateaux and coastal lowlands.

Costa Rica is a tropical country with a dry season from December to April. However, the northerly trade winds that occur in December result in lower temperatures. The country's biodiversity attracts nature lovers from all over the world. Its national parks cover approximately 12 percent of the country’s total area.

International flights arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport which is connected to major cities of the United States, Canada and Europe, all countries of Central America and selected capitals in South America. Further information on flights and connections can be obtained from: www.visitecostarica.com

11. Passport and visa

Participants requiring a visa should contact the Costa Rican Consulate or Embassy in their country. More information on visa requirements is available on: http://www.crmsv.org/investigacion/VisasCR_Esp.pdf

We recommend that participants travel on their official passports to facilitate entry formalities.

Press accreditation should be arranged through the Press Office of the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Trade (Oficina de Prensa del Ministerio de Economía Industria y Comercio – MEIC).

- 4 - 12. Security

Costa Rica is a safe country but basic rules of safety need to be observed, for example:

• only using red taxis with the cooperative symbol or hotel taxis in the city; • not displaying jewellery or objects of value when in public places.

13. Transport

Although many of the suggested hotels provide their own transportation from and to the airport, the following options are also available:

• The orange taxis of Taxis Unidos S.A. from the airport. There is an official counter to pay the estimated taxi fare to the visitor's destination. The fare to the Conference hotel is US$12 by car and US$18 by minibus.

• The public bus service which runs from the airport to San José for 290 colones.

14. Climate

The average temperature in December is between 180C and 220C. The days are generally sunny and windy. Participants are advised to bring a light overcoat.

15. Language

The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish.

16. Local currency

The local currency is the colón and the exchange rate on 19 August 2005 was 485 colones to the dollar.

17. Welcome reception

The Costa Rican Chamber of Food Industries (CACIA) will host a cocktail reception in honour of the Conference participants:

Day/Time: 7 December 2005 / 19:00-21:00 Place: Hotel Tryp Corobicí

18. Complementary activity for the third day of the Conference

A complementary activity related to the theme of food safety will be organized for 8 December in accordance with the FAO/WHO programme. Costa Rica’s Organizing Committee invites participants to visit an agrifood company during the morning, while the afternoon will be left free. Return transportation from the Conference hotel to the company will be organized by the host country, with participants back in time to make their own arrangements for lunch. Each participant should select one of the following two companies: Cooperativa de Productores de Leche RL and Adapex.

1. Cooperativa de Productores de Leche RL (Dairy Producers Cooperative) The Cooperativa de Productores de Leche RL is situated in Coyol de Alajuela some 18 km north of the Conference venue. Its various plants totalling 60 250 m2 are spread over 21 hectares of land. Operating under its "Dos Pinos" brand, the Cooperative is considered a leading dairy producer in Costa Rica, Central America and the Caribbean. It groups 1 300 dairy farmers throughout the country and has 2 600 employees. It processes 85% of the country's commercial milk production, equivalent to 220 - 5 - million kilos per year, for the manufacture of more than 300 products. Dos Pinos extends beyond national boundaries to sell in Nicaragua, Honduras, San Andrés, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama and the United States.

The Cooperative has a plant that produces 160 000 hundredweight of feed concentrate each month, a modern cheese processing plant, a high-technology milk dehydrator and a wide variety of other plants, including its Tetra Brik plant which is recognized as one of the most diversified plants of its kind in the world. Costa Rica has one of the highest levels of per capita dairy consumption on the continent (156 litres per year) as Dos Pinos has always focused on innovation to drive its production activity. More information on this company can be obtained from its web site: www.dospinos.com

2. Adapex

ADAPEX is owned the vegetable growers of in de . They concentrate on the cultivation of baby vegetables that are prized both inside and outside the country. These include scaloppini, zucchini, cabbage, lettuce and carrots – miniature products that are steadily fetching higher prices. They employ some 200 workers and last year had a turnover of one million dollars, equivalent to more than 400 million colones. Its 40 members export their products to Canada and the United States.

ADAPEX is a medium-sized company processing and exporting baby vegetables, located some 30 km east of the Conference venue.

Report on the Web: http://www.teletica.com/archivo/7dias/2004/02/minivegetales.htm

Select the company you wish to visit

There will be a maximum of fifty (50) and a minimum of twenty-five (25) persons for each company, with places filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Insufficient demand will result in the cancellation of the visit.

Please place an “X” against the company of your choice and e-mail this to: [email protected], also providing the following information:

Name of participant: Country: Organization or institution that you represent: E-mail address:

Dairy Cooperative R.L.

Date: 08 December 2005 OPTION 1 Departure: 9:00am Conference venue (Hotel Tryp Corobicí) Return: 12:30pm

Adapex

OPTION 2 Departure: 9:00am Conference venue (Hotel Tryp Corobicí) Return: 12:30pm

19. Optional tours for leisure time

Participants may wish to consider the following tours for their leisure time. More information is available from the listed web sites. - 6 -

1. Sarapiquí and Braulio Carrillo National Park, Heredia Province

We begin our scenic climb as we enter Alajuela Province in a landscape of coffee plantations, strawberry plots and fields of ornamental plants. When we reach the beautiful falls of La Paz and San Fernando we can enjoy pathways that will take us to the hummingbird garden and the butterfly observatory, followed by a delicious lunch in the rainforest. We then take a boat trip along the Sarapiquí River where we can see crocodiles, caimans, toucans, monkeys and bats in their exotic habitat.

The return journey takes us through the magnificent Braulio Carrillo National Park with its towering mountains and its living forest which is an ideal location to admire the beauty of nature and to relax as we make our way back to San José.

2. Irazú Volcano and Orosi Valley,

We take the Pan-American highway leading south and begin our climb to the colossal ‘Irazú’. The road winds through fertile fields given over to all sorts of vegetables and offers us extensive views.

At the top of the volcano, we visit its main craters and, on a clear day, might be able to see both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. On reaching the town of Cartago, we visit the University of Costa Rica’s Lankester Botanical Gardens and the Basilica of the Virgen de Los Ángeles which is a traditional and popular pilgrimage site.

3. Poás Volcano and Sarchí, Alajuela Province

Poás Volcano has one of the highest geysers in the world and a crater that measures some 1.5 km across. Although the volcano is active, it is completely safe for visitors. This tour begins with a beautiful drive through coffee plantations and flower farms. It includes a walk in the forest to admire the exotic birdlife. Some of the main attractions of this national park are its tranquility, its emerald green vegetation and its tropical lagoon. You cannot leave Costa Rica without visiting Sarchí, the country's foremost handicrafts centre where you can purchase and see artists painting Costa Rica's world famous oxcarts.

4. Reventazón River Rapids

Includes: Transfer in luxury bus or minibus, English-Spanish bilingual guide, breakfast, lunch, equipment (helmet, life jacket, paddle and raft) and a boat trip along the Reventazón River.

5. Tortuga Island Calypso Cruise

Includes: Transfer by luxury bus or minibus, English-Spanish bilingual guide, continental breakfast served on the bus, lunch on the beach, tour in a luxury cruiser (maximum 125 persons), time to enjoy the sun and beach, tropical fruits and drinks.

6. Cable Car in the Rainforest of Braulio Carrillo National Park

Includes: Transportation, guided tour, video presentation, a guided hike along nature trails enjoyed by birdwatchers from all over the world and an aerial excursion through the forest canopy in the accompany of local guides. - 7 -

7. Arenal Volcano

Includes: Transportation, bilingual guide, entrance to the hot springs, light breakfast and dinner.

8. River Nature Cruise and Poás Volcano

Includes: Transportation, bilingual guide, breakfast, boat ride and lunch.

More tourism information can be found on the following sites:

www.visitecostarica.com http://costarica.tourism.co.cr http://www.conozcacostarica.com

Country (official name) Republic of Costa Rica

Capital San José

Area 19 730 square miles or 51 100 square kms

Population 3 773 057 (July 2001 est.)

Government Democratic Republic

1. PACIFIC OCEAN 2. Caribbean Sea 3. 50 Miles 4. 50 Kilometres 5. (latitude readings) 87o W 86o W etc.