G/SPS/N/SAU/270  
 
8 May 2017  
(17-2466) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMER GENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member : KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARA BIA 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)  
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): Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries: Faroe Islands, Denmark  
5. Title of the notified document : Notice of Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), 
Decision No. 25234 dated 18 April 2017 (21/07/1438H) entitled "Temporary ban of 
importati on of chilled and frozen Atlantic salmon" originated from Faroe Islands, 
Denmark, with exception of:  a) Heat sterilized, hermetically sealed fish products (i.e. a 
heat treatment at 121 °C for at least 3.6 minutes or any time/temperature equivalent);  
b) Past eurized fish products that have been subjected to a heat treatment at 90 °C for at 
least ten minutes (or to any time/temperature equivalent which has been demonstrated 
to inactivate ISAV);  c) Mechanically dried, eviscerated fish (i.e. a heat treatment at 
100°C for 30 minutes or any time/temperature equivalent which has been demonstrated 
to inactivate ISAV);  d) Fish oil;  e) Fish meal;  f) Fish skin leather ; g) Frozen eviscerated 
fish and Frozen fish fillets . Language (s): . Number of pages:   
6. Description of content: Following the OIE report, ref. No. 23396 dated 28  March  2017, 
which indicates that Infectious salmon anaemia virus outbreak (ISAV) has reoccurred in 
Faroe Islands, Denmark, it is deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to 
prevent the entr y of Infectious salmon anaemia virus into the country. Therefore, the 
import of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) from Faroe Islands, Denmark to the Kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia is temporarily suspended.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] animal heal th, [ ] plant protection,  
[ ] protect humans fro m animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pest s.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action: An outbreak of 
ISAV was reported by official announcement  of the World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE) on 28 March 2017 in Faroe Islands, Denmark. This urges the Kingdom of Saudi 
Arabia to institute this emergency measure to prevent the entry of ISAV virus into the 
country.  G/SPS/N/SAU/270  
 
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  9. Is there a relevant internati onal 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 ): Aquatic Animal Health Code, 
Chapter  10.4 
[ ] Internation al Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the re levant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [ ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how a nd why it deviates from the 
international standard :  
10. Other r elevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
11. Date of entry into force  (dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
18 April 2017 (21/07/1438H)  
[ ] Trade facilit ating  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  
SFDA - 3292 North Ri ng road Al Nafel Area Unit (1) - Riyadh 13312 - 6288 
Tel: +(966 11) 275 9222, ext. 3331  
Fax: +(966 11) 210 9825  
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  
SFDA - 3292 North Ring road Al Nafel Area Unit (1) - Riyadh 13312 - 6288 
Tel: +(966 11) 27 5 9222, ext. 3331  
Fax: +(966 11) 210 9825  
E-mail: SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa/