G/SPS/N/MAR/81  
20 December  2021 
(21-9484) 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 , 
ONSSA (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, poultry meat products, 
eggs, egg products and animal feed  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries : Belgium  
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, œufs et ovoproduits et d'aliments pour animaux à partir 
de Belgique  (Emergency measure, applied by Morocco, pr ohibiting the importation from 
Belgium of birds of any species, poultry, poultry meat, poultry meat products, eggs, egg 
products and animal feed) Language(s) : . Number of pages:  
6. Description of content : In light of  the recent cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza 
reported by Belgium, 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 Belgium.  
The ban d oes not apply to poultry meat, poultry meat products and egg products that 
have been heat -treated to destroy the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, in 
accordance with OIE recommendations . Upon importation, these products must be 
accompanied by a sani tary 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, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or di sease, [ ] 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/81  
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  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 1.2.14  
[ ] 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)/period of application (as applicable):  
Immediately - Until the ban is lifted  
[ ] Trade faci litating 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  (Standardizati on and SPS Matters 
Division)  
Avenue Hadj Ahmed Cherkaoui, Agdal, Rabat  
Tel.: (+212) 537 676 513  
Fax: (+212) 537 682 049  
Email : enquirypoint.spsmar@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  
Direction de l'Évaluation des Risques et des Affaires Juridiques  
Division de la Normalisation et des Questions SPS  
Avenue Hadj Ahmed Cherkaoui, Agdal, Rabat  
Tel.: (+212) 537 676 513  
Fax: (+212) 537 682 049  
Email : enquirypoint.spsmar@onssa.gov.ma