G/SPS/N/SAU/153  
 
10 April 2015  
(15-1925)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES 
1. Notifying Member:  KINDGOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  Animal and plant Quarantine Department, Ministry of Agriculture 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Live catfish 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries: South Africa  
5. Title of the notified document: Notice of Ministry of Agriculture Decision No. 261551 
dated 29 March 2015 (09/06/1436 AH) entitled "Temporary ban of importation Live Catfish " originated from South Africa  Language(s): Arabic  Number of pages: 1  
6. Description of content: Following the OIE report, Ref. No. 11, Vol. 28 (16524) dated 
11 March 2015, which indicates that Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome outbreak in North West of South Africa. It is deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prevent 
the entry of Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome into the country. Therefore, the import of live 
Catfish from South Africa 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 pe st or disease, [ ] protect territory 
from other damage from pests.   
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s)  and reason for urgent action: Previous outbreak 
of Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (1 February 2013) was reported by official announcement of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Its reoccurrence on 
2 August 2014 in South Africa urges the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to institute this 
emergency measure to prevent the entry of Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome into the country. 
9. Is there a relevant international stan dard? 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 (2014) 
Chapter 10.2 
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)   
[ ] None  G/SPS/N/SAU/153 
 
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   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): 
29 March 2015 (09/06/1436 AH) 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
Animal and plant Quarantine Department  
Airport Road, Riyadh 11195 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
Tel: +(966 11) 404 4292  +(966 11) 401 6666, ext. 3074 
Fax: +(966 11) 401 1323 
E-mail: alfadhlg@hotmail.com  Website: http://www.moa.gov.sa/public/portal  
13. Text(s) available from: [ ] National Noti fication Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail a ddress (if available)  of other body:  
Animal and plant Quarantine Department 
Airport Road, Riyadh 11195 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Tel: +(966 11) 404 4292 
 +(966 11) 401 6666, ext. 3074 
Fax: +(966 11) 401 1323 E-mail: alfadhlg@hotmail.com  
Website: http://www.moa.gov.sa/public/portal