G/SPS/N/ALB/180  
 
23 September 2014  
(14-5314)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES 
1. Notifying Member:  ALBANIA 
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water 
Management 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Live animals (all ruminants and herbivores affected by 
the bluetongue disease), semen, embryos and ova of all ruminants and herbivores 
affected by the bluetongue disease. 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  1  Greece: in region of: Peloponnisos, Sterea Ellada, Kai Thrace Anatoliki Makedonia, 
Makedonia in Greece Dytiki,  
2  Bulgaria: in region of: Smolyan, Gabrov o, Blagoevgard, Sumeet, Kardzali, Haskovo, 
Kyustendil, Yambol,Burgas, Sliven, Sofia, Lovec, Tarnovo, Plovdiv, Silistra, Varna, Ta rgoviste, Veliko Tarnovo and 
Razgrad 
3  Macedonia: in region of: Strumica, Valandovo, Gevgedlia, Resen, Vinica, Ohrid, Stip, 
Delcevo, Berovo, Kavardarci and Negotino 
4  Italy: in region of: Calabria, Lazio, Campania and Umbria 
5  Romania: in region of:Dolj, Olt, Vilcea, Bacau, Botosani, Vaslui and Ilfov 6  Turkey: in region of: Kýrklareli 7  Serbia: in region of: Jablanica 
5. Title of the notified document: Order of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural 
Development and Water Management "On some protective measures against the 
Bluetongue disease In Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Turkey and Serbia"  
Language(s): Albanian  Number of pages: 2  
6. Description of content: This Order of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development 
and Water Management provides some protective measures against the outbreak of bluetongue disease in point 4. Stopping the import of all ruminants and herbivores as 
well as, semen, embryos and ova of all ruminants and herbivores affected by the 
bluetongue disease, from the territories described in point 4, to the Albanian territory. The veterinary certificate should guarantee their origin. The measures also consist in stopping the import of unsterile biological materials originating from all ruminants and 
herbivores affected by the bluetongue disease in the territories described in point 4, to 
the Albanian territory. G/SPS/N/ALB/180 
 
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  7. Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[X] protect humans from animal/plant pe st or disease, [X] protect territory 
from other damage from pests.  
The objective is to protect animal health in the territory of Albania against the 
bluetongue disease outbreak into the territories described in point 4. 
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s)  and reason for urgent action: This Order is to 
protect animal health against bluetongue disease, stopping the import and transit of all ruminants and herbivores as well as, semen, embryos and ova of all ruminants and 
herbivores affected by the bluetongue disease. 
9. Is there a relevant international stan dard? 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) Chapter number 8.3 "Bluetongue 
disease" 
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)   
[ ] None 
Does this proposed regulation conform to  the relevant international standard? 
[X] Yes   [ ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other relevant documents and langua ge(s) in which these are available:  
Notifications taken by the World Organization for Animal Health, OIE, dated 
30 May 2014, 15 July 2014, 5 August 2014, 14 August 2014, 2 September 2014 and 
thereafter related to the outbreak of blue tongue disease in Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, 
Macedonia, Romania, Turkey and Serbia and according to the International Terrestrial 
Animal Health Code; 
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
9 September 2014 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [X] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
13. Text(s) available from: [X] National Noti fication Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail a ddress (if available)  of other body:  
General Directory of Agriculture Services and Fishery 
SPS Enquiry Point - Albania 
Tel: +(355 4) 225 9333 Fax: +(355 4) 225 9333 
E-mail: mbumk_sps@yahoo.com 
Website: http://www.bujqesia.gov.al