G/SPS/N/SAU/500  
13 April 2023 
(23-2656) 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:  National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plants Pest and 
Animal Diseases  
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):  Equine  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Uruguay  
5. Title of the notified document:  Notice of the Ministry of Environment Water and 
Agriculture, Decision No. 232473/104922/1444 dated 29 March 2023 entitl ed "Temporary 
ban on importation of equine originated from Uruguay" . Language(s):  . Number of 
pages:   
6. Description of content:  Following the WOAH report which indicates that an Equine 
Infectious Anemia (EIA) disease has occurred in Uruguay, it is deemed necessary for the 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prevent the entry of the disease into the country. Therefore, 
the importation of equine from Uruguay to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 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:  An Equine Infectious 
Anemia (EIA) disease that occurred in Uruguay was reported by official announcement of 
the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). It urges the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to 
institute this emergency measure to prevent 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) :  
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Animal Terrestrial health code, 
Chapter  12.5 
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  G/SPS/N/SAU/500  
 
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  [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):  
29 March 20 23 
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
Saudi Food and Drug Authority - Food Sector  
Contact person: Mohammed AL Huthiel  
SFDA - 4904 North Ring branch rd - Hitteen Dist Unit Number (1) - Riyadh 13513 - 7148 
Tel: +(966 11) 203 8222, Ext: 3313  
E-mail: spsep.food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Saudi Food and Drug Authority - Food Sector  
Contact person: Mohammed AL Huthiel  
SFDA - 4904 North Ring branch rd - Hitteen Dist Unit Number (1) - Riyadh 13513 - 7148 
Tel: +(966 11) 203 8222, Ext: 3313  
E-mail: spsep.food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa