G/SPS/N/EU/462  
 
2 March 2021  
(21-1785) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  EUROPEAN UNION  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  European Commission, Health and Food Safety Directorate -
General  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Live animals of t he Order Caudata (HS Code 01069000 ) 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/361 of 
22 February 2021 laying down emergency measures for movements between member 
States and the entry into the Union of consignments of salamanders in relation to infection 
with Batrachochytrium salamandrivora ns. Language(s): English, French and Spanish . 
Number of pages: 13 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/EEC/21_1616_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/EEC/21_1616_00_f.pdf  
https://members.w to.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/EEC/21_1616_00_s.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Animal health measures for movement of consignments of 
salamanders between EU member States and for the entry of such consignments into the 
Union to ensure that the fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans  (Bsal) is not spread 
by those animals. The releva nt current Commission Implementing Decision 
(EU) 2018/320 applies until 21 April 2021. The new measures by Commission 
Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/361 will apply from 21 April 2021. They take into 
account risk mitigation measures referred to in an EFSA Technical Assistance and in an 
EFSA Scientific  Opinion (see below under point 9), and experience with the application of 
Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/320. They provide for appropriate quarantine, 
diagnostic testing and treatment of salamanders as well a s for certification of their health 
status. These measures are of temporary nature. Most risk -mitigating measures, in 
particular the quarantining in an appropriate establishment, testing and treatment of 
traded and introduced salamanders are to be done by competent veterinary authorities, 
operators and laboratories located within the Union. All consignments of salamanders 
destined for intra -Union trade or entry into the Union are subject to risk mitigation 
measures.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food saf ety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  G/SPS/N/EU/462  
 
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  8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  To protect 
susceptible species in the  European Union from spread of Bsal.  
9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Aquatic Animal Health Code, 
Chapter  8.2 
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   
− European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Scientific and technical assistance concerning 
the survival, establishment and spread of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) 
in the EU, EFSA Journal 2017;15(2):4739  
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4739/full  
− European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Scientific Opinion on assessment of listing 
and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law 
(Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), EFSA 
Journal 2017;15(11):5071  
https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/5071   
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
22 February 2021 /21 April 2021 
[ ] Trade facili tating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
European Commission  
DG Health and Food Safety, Un it D2-Multilateral International Relations  
Rue Froissart 101  
B-1049 Brussels  
Tel: +(32 2) 29 54263  
Fax: +(32 2) 29 98090  
E-mail: sps@ec.europa.eu  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
European Commission  
DG Health and Food Safety, Unit D2 -Multilateral International Relations  
Rue Froissart 101  
B-1049 Brussels  
Tel: +(32 2) 29 54263  
Fax: +(32 2) 29 98090  
E-mail: sps@ec.europa.eu