G/SPS/N/SAU/403  
 
8 July 2019  
(19-4520) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARA BIA 
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 applicable):  Live oreochromis niloticus  species  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado, United States of 
America  
5. Title of the notified document:  Notice of the Ministry of Environment, Water and 
Agriculture, Decision No. 763950/1291/1440 dated 23 June 2019 (20/10/1440 H) entitled 
"Temporary ban on the importation of live Oreochromis niloticus  fish species from the 
states of Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado, United States of America ". Language(s): 
Arabic . Number of pages:  1 
https://members.wto.org/crnatt achments/2019/SPS/SAU/19_3808_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Following the OIE report, ref. No. 19 Vol. 32 dated 9  May 2019, 
which indicates that Tilapia Lake Virus disease has occurred in the states of Idaho, 
Wyoming and Colorado, United States of America, it is deemed necessary for the Kingdom 
of Saudi Arabia to prevent the entry of the disease into the country. Therefore, the 
importation of live Oreochromis niloticus  fish species from the states of Idaho, Wyoming 
and Colorado to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is temporarily suspended. Also, all 
consignments of live Oreochromis niloticus fish from the United States of America must 
be accompanied with a health certificate stating that the consignments are disease free 
(Tilapia Lake Virus), until the epidemical situation is clarified.  
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:  An outbreak of 
Tilapia Lake Vir us disease was reported by official announcement of the World 
Organization for Animal Health (OIE) in the states of Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado in the 
United States of America. This urges the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to institute this 
emergency measure to p revent the entry of the disease into the country.  
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) :  G/SPS/N/SAU/403  
 
- 2 - 
 
  [X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : 
http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/H ome/eng/Internationa_Standard_Setting/docs/pd
f/A_TiLV_disease_card.pdf   
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, descri be, 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):  
23 June 2019 (20/10/1440 H)  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  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.mewa.gov.sa/public/portal  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [X]  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.mewa.gov.sa/public/portal