G/SPS/N/SAU/378  
 
25 October 2018  
(18-6717) 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 tilapia fish species  
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 the Ministry of Environment, Water and 
Agricult ure, Decision No. 8248/79731/1440 dated 12 September 2018 (2/1/1440 H) 
entitled "Temporary ban on the importation of live tilapia fish species from Mexico" . 
Language(s): . Number of pages:  
6. Description of content: Following the OIE report, ref. No. 35 Vol. 31 dated 
25 August  2018, which indicates that Tilapia Lake Virus disease has occurred in Mexico, 
it is deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prevent the entry of the disease 
into the country. Therefore, the importation of live tilapia fi sh species from Mexico 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 
Tilapia Lake Virus disease was reported by official announcement of the World 
Organization for Animal Health (OIE) in Mexico.  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 o r serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this pro posed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  G/SPS/N/SAU/378  
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] Yes   [X] No  
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  
http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Internationa_Standard_Setting/docs/pdf/A_TiL
V_disease_card.pdf  
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): 
12 September 2018 (2/1/1440 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 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  
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 Arabi a 
Tel: +(966 11) 404 4292  
 +(966 11) 401 6666  
E-mail: anml.rsk@mewa.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.mewa.gov.sa/public/portal