G/SPS/N/SAU/443  
 
17 November 2020  
(20-8253) 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:  Livestock Risk Assessment Department, Ministry of Environment, 
Water and Agriculture  
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 applicabl e): Livestock  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Ethiopia  
5. Title of the notified document:  Notice of the Ministry of Environment, Water and 
Agriculture, Decision No. 172737/1291/1442 dated  8 November 2020 (22/03/1442 H) 
entitled "Temporary Ban on the Importation of Livestock originating from Ethiopia" . 
Language(s): Arabic . Number of pages: 1 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/SAU/20_7078_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Based on study and evaluation of the health  situation recorded 
cases of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in Ethiopia, it is deemed necessary for the Kingdom of 
Saudi Aribia to prevent the entry of RVF disease into the country. Therefore, the 
importation of livestock from Ethiopia to the Kingdom of Saudi Ara bia is temporarily 
suspended.  
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:  Based on study and 
evaluation of the health situation recorded cases of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in Ethiopia. 
This urges the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to institute this emergency measure to prevent 
the entry of RVF vir us into the country.  G/SPS/N/SAU/443  
 
- 2 - 
 
  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) : Terrestrial Animal Health Code 
CHAPTER 8.15.  
[ ] 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:   
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
8 November 2020  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address  
(if available) of other body:   
Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture  
Livestock Risk Assessment Department  
Eastern Ring Road, Exit 12, Riyadh 11195  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  
Tel: +(966 11) 404 4292  
+(966 11) 401 6666  
E-mail: anml.rsk@mewa.gov.sa   
Website: http://www.moa.gov.sa/public/portal  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture  
Livestock Risk Assessment Department  
Eastern Ring Road, Exit 12, Riyadh 11195  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  
Tel: +(966 11) 404 4292  
+(966 11) 401 6666  
E-mail: anml.rsk@mewa.gov.sa   
Website: http://www.moa.gov.sa/public/portal