G/SPS/N/ALB/197  
 
12 January 2017  
(17-0200) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMER GENCY 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 (pr ovide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Live poultry, semen, embryos, ova and by -products of 
poultry affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza  H5N8  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners    
[X] Specific regions or countries: Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro  
5. Title of the notified document : Order of the Minister of Agriculture , Rural 
Development and Water Management "On some protective measures against the disease 
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 in Greece, Bulgaria and Montenegro" . 
Language (s): Albanian . Number of pages:  2 
6. Description of content: This Order of the Mi nister of Agriculture, Rural Development 
and Water Management provides some protective measures against the outbreak of 
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 disease in the regions indicated in point 4. A  
ban has been placed on the imports of all live pou ltry, semen, embryos, ova and 
by-products of poultry affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8, from the 
territories described in point 4, to the Albanian territory. In addition, the veterinary 
certificate should guarantee their origin. The measur es also consist in stopping the 
import of unsterile biological materials originating from all live poultry, semen, embryos, 
ova and by -products of poultry affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 in 
the territories described in point 4, to the Al banian territory.  
7. Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection,  
[X] protect humans fro m animal/plant pest or disease, [X]  protect territory 
from other damage from pest s. The objective is to protect animal and human health 
in the territory of Albania against the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 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 and human he alth against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 
disease, by banning the import and transit of all live poultry, semen, embryos, ova and 
by-products of poultry affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza  H5N8.  G/SPS/N/ALB/197  
 
- 2 - 
 
  9. Is there a relevant international sta ndard? 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 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 and why it deviates from the  
international standard :   
10. Other r elevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
Notifications submitted to the World Organization for Animal Health, OIE,  
related to the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 disease  
in Greece (23  December  2016), Bulgaria (22 December 2016) and Montenegro 
(22 December  2016), according to the Terrestrial Animal Health Code.  
11. Date of entry into force  (dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
6 January 2017  
[ ] 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:   
13. Text(s)  available from:  [X] National Notificatio n Authority, [ X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:  
General Directory of Agriculture Services and Fishery  
SPS Enquiry Point - Albania  
Tel: +(355 4) 2 259 333  
Fax: +(355 4) 2 259 333  
E-mail: mbumk_s ps@yahoo.com  
Website: http://www.bujqesia.gov.al