G/SPS/N/KOR/685  
 
29 May 2020  
(20-3877) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  REPUBLIC OF KOREA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Environment (ME)  
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):  Wild animals that are considered possible intermediate hosts for 
COVID -19 transmission.  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, t o the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Notice of the ME on the temporary import restriction of 
wild animals considered possible intermediate hosts for COVID -19 transmission. . 
Language(s): English . Number of pages: 14 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/KOR/20_3440_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The restriction on import into Korea as follows:  
− Wild animals that are considered possible intermediate hosts for CIVID -19 
transmission, including Snakes (suborder Serpentes), Bats (order Chiroptera), 
Racoons, Budgers, Civet cats (family Viverridae), Pangolins  (family Manidae).  
− However, regarding CITES -listed species, in situations where the exporter provides 
a sanitary certificate (a veterinary export certificate), which will prove the animal 
does not carry the virus, through more thorough inspections, the import permit into 
Korea may be issued by the Mi nistry of Environment.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [  ] 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:  The Republic of 
Korea raised its infectious disease alert to its highest level in a bid to cope with the 
acceleration of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID -19) transmission.  
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) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  G/SPS/N/KOR/685  
 
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  Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standa rd:  
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Ministry 
of Environment, 26 Feb 2020 (available in English, attached file)  
Enforcement decree of the wildlife protection and management act, 27 May 2020 
(available in Korean)  
http://law.go.kr/lsSc.do?tabMenuId=tab18&section=&eventGubun=060101&query=%E
C%95%BC%EC%83%9D%EC%83 %9D%EB%AC%BC#J14:2 )  
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
21 February 2020   
[ ] 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  
11 Doum6 -ro, Government Complex -Sejong, Sejong -si 30103, Republic of Korea  
Tel: +(8244) 201 7243  
Fax: +(8244) 201 7261  
E-mail: g1seo@korea.kr   
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  
11 Doum6 -ro, Gov ernment Complex -Sejong, Sejong -si 30103, Republic of Korea  
Tel: +(8244) 201 7243  
Fax: +(8244) 201 7261  
E-mail: g1seo@korea.kr