G/SPS/N/ZAF/53  
 
3 July 2017  
(17-3551) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMER GENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member : SOUTH AFRICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  
3. Products covered (provide tari ff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): HS Codes: 01, 02, 04   Live poultry, pigeons and other 
birds, eggs (excluding SPF eggs), fresh (including frozen) pou ltry meat  
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 : South Africa is imposing a temporary ban on the 
import ation of live poultry, pigeons and other birds, eggs (excluding SPF eggs) fresh 
(including frozen) poultry meat from Belgium. Language (s): English . Number of 
pages:  2 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/SPS/ZAF/17_2975_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: Following a notification published by the World Organisation 
for Animal Health (OIE) regarding the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza 
virus (H PAI) in poultry in Belgium, South Africa is applying precautionary sanitary 
measures to prevent the risk of introducing HPAI virus through the imports of live birds 
and their products from Belgium. These measures include temporary bans on the 
importation o f live poultry, pigeons and other birds, eggs (excluding SPF eggs) fresh 
(including frozen) poultry meat from Belgium.  
7. Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection,  
[ ] protect humans fro m animal/plant pest or disea se, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pest s.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action: There is a risk of 
contamination from importing poultry, live birds and poultry products from Belgium, 
which are affected with Highly  Pathogenic Avian Influenza. This follows the notification of 
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in poultry in Belgium. This applied measure is in 
compliance with Article 10.4.3, Chapter 10.4 of the World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE) Terrestrial Ani mal Health Code.  
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.  Terrest rial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Terrestrial code (OIE) Chapter 10.4.3  G/SPS/N/ZAF/53  
 
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  [ ] 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 and 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) : With 
immediate effect.  
[ ] Trade facilit ating  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:  
Departme nt of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  
Directorate Animal Health  
Contact Person: Dr Angela Graham  
Tel: +(27 12) 319 7599  
E-mail: AngelaG@daff.gov.za  
13. Text(s)  available from:  [ ] National Notification Authority, [ X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, f ax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:  
Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  
Directorate Animal Health  
Contact Person: Dr Angela Graham  
Tel: +(27 12) 319 7599  
E-mail: AngelaG@daff.gov.za