G/SPS/N/MAR/70  
11 November  2020 
(20-8062) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original:  French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member : MOROCCO  
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible : Office National de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits Alimentaires  
(National Office for Food Safety)  
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) : Birds of any species, poultry, poultry meat, po ultry meat products, 
eggs and egg products.  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries : Netherlands  
5. Title of the notified document : Mesure d'urgence, appliquée par le Maroc, relative à la 
prohibition d'importation d'oiseaux de toutes espèces, de volailles, viandes de volailles et 
produits à base de ces viandes, oeufs et ovoproduits à partir des Pays Bas à cause 
d'influenza aviaire hautement p athogène  (Emergency measure, applied by Morocco, 
prohibiting the importation from the Netherlands of birds of any species, poultry, poultry 
meat, poultry meat products, eggs and egg products, on account of highly pathogenic 
avian influenza) Language(s) : Number of pages:  
6. Description of content : In light of the recent cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza 
reported on 4 November 2 020 by the Netherlands, measures have been introduced to 
prohibit the importation into Morocco of poultry of any species, poultry meat, poultry 
meat products, eggs and egg products from that country.  
The ban does not apply to poultry meat and poultry meat products that have been heat -
treated to destroy the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, in accordance with O IE 
recommendations . Upon importation, these products must be accompanied by a sanitary 
certificate and a certificate issued by the relevant health authorities confirming that they 
have been heat -treated.  
7. Objective and rationale : [X] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[X] 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 : To prevent highly 
pathogenic avian influenza from entering Morocco.  G/SPS/N/MAR/70  
- 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 Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)  (e.g. T errestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Chapter 10.4 of the OIE Terrestrial 
Animal Health Code.  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. I SPM number) : 
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Ye s [ ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  
10. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
11. Date of entry into force (dd/mm/yy)/peri od of application (as applicable):  5 
November 2 020 - Until the ban is lifted.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments : [X] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point . Address, fax number and email address 
(if available) of other body:  
Office National de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits Alimentaires , ONSSA (National Office 
for Food Safety)  
Direction de l'Évaluation des Risques et des Affaires Juridiques  (Directorate of Risk 
Assessment and Legal Affairs)  
Division de la Normalisation et des Questions SPS (Standardization and SPS Division)  
Avenue Hadj Ahmed Cherkaoui, Agdal, Rabat, Morocco  
Tel.: (+212) 537 676 513  
Fax: (+212) 537 682 049  
Email: ma.sps.enquirypoint@onssa.gov.ma  
13. Text(s) available from : [X] National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point . Address, fax number and email address (if available) of other body:  
Office National de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits Alimentaires , ONSSA (National Office 
for Food Safety)  
Direction de l'Evaluation des Risques et des Affaires Juridiques  (Directorate of Risk 
Assessment and Legal Affairs)  
Division de la Normalisation et des Questions SPS (Standardization and SPS Division)  
Avenue Hadj Ahmed Cherkaoui, Agdal, Rabat, Morocco  
Tel.: (+212) 537 676 513  
Fax: (+212) 537 682 049  
Email: ma.sps.enquirypoint@onssa.gov.ma