G/SPS/N/SAU/226  
 
19 December 2016  
(16-6924) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMER GENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member : KINGDOM OF  SAUDI ARABIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  Animal and Plant Quarantine Department, Ministry of 
Environment, Water a nd Agriculture  
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): Live birds, hatching eggs and one -day old chicks  
4. Regions or cou ntries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners    
[X] Specific regions or countries: Japan  
5. Title of the notified document : Notice of Minister ial Decision No. 77997 dated 
28 November 2016 (28/2/1438H) entitl ed "Temporary Ban of importation of Live Bird, 
Hatching Egg and One day Old Chick" originated from Japan . Language (s):  . Number 
of pages:    
6. Description of content: Following the OIE report s, Ref. No.47, Vol. 29 dated 
21 Novembre 2016, which indicate that a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) 
outbreak has reoccurred in Japan, i t is deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi 
Arabia to prevent the entry of HPAI disease into the country. Therefore, the import of 
live birds, hatching eggs and one -day o ld chicks from Japan to the Kingdom of Saudi 
Arabia is temporarily suspended.  
7. Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection,  
[ ] protect humans fro m animal/plant pest or disease, [ ]  protect territory from 
other dama ge from pest s.   
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action: An outbreak of 
HPAI was reported in Japan by official announcement of the World Organization for 
Animal Health (OIE) on 21 November 2016. This urges the Kingdom of Saudi Ara bia to 
institute this emergency measure to prevent the entry of HPAI virus into the country.  
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) : Animal Terrestrial health code, 
Chapter 10.4  
[ ] Internation al Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :   
[ ] None  G/SPS/N/SAU/226  
 
- 2 - 
 
  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 avail able:   
11. Date of entry into force  (dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
28 November 2016  (28/2/1438H)  
[ ] 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:  
Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture  
Animal and Plant Quarantine Department  
Airport Road, Riyadh 11195  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  
Tel: +(966 11) 4044292  
 +(966 11)  4016666 Ext. 3074  
Fax: +(966 11) 4011323  
E-mail: ossamaalsaleh2@gmail.com  
Website: http://www.moa.gov.sa/public/portal  
13. Text(s)  available from:  [ ] National Notification Authority, [ X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (i f available) of other body:  
Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture  
Animal and Plant Quarantine Department  
Airport Road, Riyadh 11195  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  
Tel: +(966 11) 4044292  
 +(966 11) 4016666 Ext. 3074  
Fax: +(966 11) 4011323  
E-mail: ossama alsaleh2@gmail.com  
Website: http://www.moa.gov.sa/public/portal