. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/ITA/4
10 October 2001
(01-4910)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  ITALY ,  EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
If applicable, name of local government involved:
2. Agency responsible:  General Directorate of Veterinary Public Health, Food and Nutrition
GDVPHFN – Ministry of Health, Rome
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  Fish, amphibians, reptiles and aquatic invertebrates for aquarium.  Regions or
countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  European
Community (EC) member States and third countries trading with the EC.
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Decree concerning health rules for
the importation of fish, amphibians, reptiles and aquatic invertebrates for aquarium
5. Description of content:  The notified text, aims to protect Public health, through preventive
health measures against Salmonella spp. and V. cholerae,  as well as Animal health,
certifying animals free from the reportable diseases according to the OIE Aquatic Animal
Health Code.  To this aim, the notified decree defines hygienic and technical conditions
applicable to the importing fish-farms and traders;  and establishes specific models of
certificates.
6. Objective and rationale: [     ] food safety,  [  X ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[ X ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,
[    ] protect territory from other damage from pests           
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  Where they exist this decree complies with the
International Aquatic Animal  Health Code (IAAHC-OIE)
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Decree concerning
health rules for the importation of fish, amphibians, reptiles and aquatic invertebrates for
aquarium (10 pages;  summary available in English, French and Spanish).  The text will be
available on the Italian website at http://www.sanita.it/alimvet/
9. Proposed date of adoption:  It is intended to adopt this regulation before the end of
year 2001.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  The day of publication in the Official Journal of the
Republic of ItalyG/SPS/N/ITA/4
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  15 October 2001
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [  X ] EC enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:           
12. Texts available from: [     ] National notification authority, [  X ] EC enquiry point or
address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  SPS contact point
for Italy:
Ministero della Sanità
Dipartimento degli Alimenti, Nutrizione e della Sanità Publica Veterinaria
Ufficio III:  Rapporti Internazionali
Piazzale Marconi 25
00144 Rome [ITALY]
Phone +39 (06) 5994 3531
Fax +39(06) 5994 3555E-mail Address: p.parodi@sanita.it
Website: http://www.sanita.it