G/SPS/N/SAU/380  
 
15 November 2018  
(18-7180) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARA BIA 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Livestock Risk Assessment Department, Ministry of Environment, 
Water and 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 white clawed crayfish  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: United Kingdom  
5. Title of the notified document: Notice of the Ministry of Environment, Water and  
Agriculture, Decision No. 163643/79731/1440 dated 5 November 2018 (27/2/1440 H) 
entitled "Temporary ban on the importation of live white clawed crayfish from the United 
Kingdom" . Language(s): . Number of pages:  
6. Description of content: Following the O IE report, ref. No. 42 Vol. 31 dated 15 October 
2018, which indicate s that Crayfish Plag ue has occurred in the United Kingdom, it is 
deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prevent the entry of the disease 
into the country. Therefore, the impor tation of live white clawed crayfish from the United 
Kingdom to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is temporarily suspended.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] 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 
Crayfish Plag ue was reported by official announcement of the World Organization for 
Animal Health (OIE) in the Un ited Kingdom. This urges the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to 
institute this emergency measure to prevent the entry of the disease 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) : Aquatic Animal Health Code, 
Chapter  9.2 
[ ] International Plant Protection Co nvention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  G/SPS/N/SAU/380  
 
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  [X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
5 November 2018 (27/2/1440 H)  
[ ] Trade facilitating 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  
Livestock Risk Assessment Department  
Eastern Ring Road, Exit 12, Riyadh 11 195 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  
Tel: +(966 11) 404 4292  
 +(966 11) 401 6666  
E-mail: anml.rsk@mewa.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.mewa.gov.sa/public/portal  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] 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  
Livestock Risk Assessment Department  
Eastern Ring Road, Exit 12, Riyadh 11195  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  
Tel: +(966 11) 404 4292  
 +(966 11) 401 6666  
E-mail: anml.rsk@mewa.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.mewa.gov.sa/public/portal