G/SPS/N/SAU/511  
6 July 2023  
(23-4601) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  National Center  for the Prevention and Control of Plants Pest and 
Animal Diseases  
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):  Equine  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  France  
5. Title of the notified document:  Notice of the Ministry of Environment Water and 
Agriculture, Decision  No. 247841 dated 29 June 2023 entitled "Temporary Ban imposed on 
importation of equine, embryos, ova and sperm originated from France" . Language(s):  . 
Number of pages:   
6. Description of content:  The Ministry of Environment Water and Agriculture is imposing 
temporary ban on the importation of equine, embryos, ova and sperm originated from 
France.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  The Ministry of 
Environment Water and Agriculture is imposing temporary ban on the importation of 
equine, embryos, ova and sperm originated from France based on the official 
announcement by WOAH report dated 1 June 2023, which noted the outbreak of equine 
infection anemia in France.  
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) : Animal Terrestrial health code, 
Chapter  12.5 
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international sta ndard?  G/SPS/N/SAU/511  
 
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  [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:    
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
29 June 2023  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of othe r body:   
Saudi Food and Drug Authority - Food Sector  
Contact person: Mohammed AL Huthiel  
SFDA - 4904 North Ring branch rd - Hitteen Dist Unit Number (1) - Riyadh 13513 - 7148 
Tel: +(966 11) 203 8222, Ext.: 3313  
E-mail: spsep.food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa  
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:   
Saudi Food and Drug Authority - Food Sector  
Contact person: Mohammed AL Huthiel  
SFDA - 4904 North Ring branch rd - Hitteen Dist  Unit Number (1) - Riyadh 13513 - 7148 
Tel: +(966 11) 203 8222, Ext.: 3313  
E-mail: spsep.food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa