. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/SAU/37 
9 October 2012  
 (12-5474) 
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):  Raw, chilled and frozen poultry m eat and eggs, and their products 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Mexico  
5. Title of the notified document:  Notice of Executive Order of Saudi Food and Drug 
Authority Ref. No. 136/33 dated 17 Sept ember 2012 (01/11/1433 AH) entitled "Temporary 
Ban of Importation of Raw, Chilled and Fr ozen Poultry Meat and Eggs, and Their 
Products" originated from Mexico  Language(s):  Arabic  Number of pages:  1 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2012/sps/SAU/12_3965_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Following the OIE reports, Ref. No. 12169, dated 2 August 2012, 
it was reported that a highly pathogenic avia n influenza viruses (H7N3) outbreak has 
reoccurred in Mexico.  It is deemed necessar y for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prevent 
the entry of avian influenza viruses into the co untry.  Therefore, the import of raw, chilled 
and frozen poultry meat and eggs, and their products (with the exception of processed 
poultry meat and egg products exposed to eith er heat or other treatments that ensure 
deactivation of avian influenza viruses) from the affected area to  the Kingdom of Saudi 
Arabia is temporarily suspended. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ ] 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 highly 
pathogenic avian influenza viruses (H7N3) has been reported by official announcement of 
the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE ).  It started on 21 June 2012 in Mexico, 
and it reoccurred on 2 August 2012.  The King dom of Saudi Arabia is instituting this 
emergency measure to prevent the entry of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses into 
the country. 
 G/SPS/N/SAU/37 
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):  17 September 
2012 (01/11/1433 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