. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/SAU/40 
21 December 2012  
 (12-7030) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES 
 
1. Notifying Member:  KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 
If applicable, name of local government involved:     
2. Agency responsible:  Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable):  Bovine meat (raw, chilled, frozen and processed) 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Brazil  
5. Title of the notified document:  Notice of Executive Order of Saudi Food and Drug 
Authority Ref. No. (25/34) dated 14 Dece mber 2012 (01/02/1434 AH) entitled "Temporary 
Ban of Importation of Bovine Meat (Raw, Ch illed, Frozen and Processed)" originated from 
Brazil  Language(s):  Arabic  Number of pages:  1 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2012/sps/SAU/12_4873_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Following the OIE reports, Ref. No. 12682, dated 7 December 
2012, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) disease outbreak has occurred in Brazil.  
It is deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Sa udi Arabia to prevent the entry of Bovine 
Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) disease into the country.   Therefore, the import of bovine meat (raw, chilled, frozen and processed) from Brazil to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is temporarily suspended. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [X] food safety , [X] 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:  An outbreak of Bovine 
Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) was reported by official announcement of the World 
Organization for Animal Health (OIE).  It was pre-confirmed on 15 June 2012, and 
confirmed on 7 December 2012.  The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is instituting this 
emergency measure to prevent the introduc tion of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy 
(BSE) into the country. G/SPS/N/SAU/40 
Page 2  
 
  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. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)   
[ ] 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:       
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  14 December 
2012 (01/02/1434 AH)  
[ ] Trade facilitating 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:   
SPS Enquiry point, Saudi food & Drug Authority  
SFDA - 3292 North Ring road Al Nafel Area Unit (1) - Riyadh 13312 - 6288 Tel.:   +(966 1) 275 9222, Ext. 3358 Fax:   +(966 1) 210 9825 E-mail:  SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa 
Website:  http://www.sfda.gov.sa  
13. Texts available from:  [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
SPS Enquiry point, Saudi food & Drug Authority 
SFDA - 3292 North Ring road Al Nafel Area Unit (1) - Riyadh 13312 - 6288 Tel.:   +(966 1) 275 9222, Ext. 3358 Fax:   +(966 1) 210 9825 
E-mail:  SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa 
Website:  http://www.sfda.gov.sa