. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/EEC/99
20 October 2000
(00-4359)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  General Directorate for Health and Consumer Protection
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).  Registered horses   Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent
relevant or practicable:  New York, including New York City, New Jersey,
Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Draft Commission decision
amending Decision 2000/551/EC on certain protection measures with regard to equidae
coming from certain parts of the United States of America affected by West Nile Fever
SANCO/2730/2000-Rev1 (5 pages)
5.Description of content:  In addition to the animal health certificate required for the
temporary admission, re-entry after temporary export of registered horses and the imports
and transit of equidae, and until the 30 November 2000:
• A supplementary certificate shall be required for individual equidae coming from
New York (including NY City), New Jers ey, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode
Island areas in the United States of America;
• These  provisions do not apply to equidae co ming from other areas in direct transit to
an airport situated within the areas spec ified for subsequent air transport to the
European Communities.
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. Nature of the urgent problem(s):  In certain states of the United States of America cases
of West Nile fever, a non-contagious vector-transmitted viral disease accompanied by
clinical signs of encephalitis, have been reported in horses. The presence of this disease is
liable to constitute a danger for humans and equidae.
8. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [     ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give its appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  This measure conforms the International Animal
Health Code - 2000 Part 2  Section 2.5.  Chapter 2.5.3. for Equine Encephalomyelitis (Eastern
and Western).G/SPS/N/EEC/99
Page 2
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: Draft Commission
decision amending Decision 2000/551/EC on ce rtain protection measures with regard to
equidae coming from certain parts of the United States of America affected by West Nile
Fever (Available in all EC languages).
10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  This decision will apply
until 30 November 2000.
11. Texts available from/and agency or authority designated to handle comments:
[    ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point or address, fax
number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: