G/SPS/N/MDG/20  
 
15 February 2016  
(16-0960)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: French  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
1. Notifying Member: MADAGASCAR  
If applicable, name of local government involved: Direction des services 
vétérinaires  (Veterinary Services Directorate); Direction de la protection des végétaux  
(Plant Protection Directorate); Autorité sanitaire halieutique  (Fisheries Health Authority); 
and Agence de contrôle de la sécurité sanitaire et de la qualité des denrées alimentaires  
(Agency for Monitoring Food Safety and Quality) 
2. Agency responsible: Ministère de l'Agriculture  (Ministry of Agriculture); Ministère de 
l'élevage  (Ministry of Livestock); Ministère des ressources halieutiques et de la pêche  
(Ministry of Fisheries Resources and Fishing); Ministère de la santé  (Ministry of Health); 
Ministère du commerce et de la consommation  (Minister of Trade and Consumer Affairs); 
and Ministère de l'industrie  (Ministry of Industry) 
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): All food and feed of animal or plant origin 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:  
5. Title of the notified document: Loi alimentaire  (Food Law)  Language(s): French  
Number of pages: 25 
Text available at: 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/MDG/16_0582_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content:  
The main aims of the notified Law are as follows: 
 to establish the general principles govern ing food for human consumption and animal 
f e e d ,  i n  p a r t i c u l a r  m e a s u r e s  t o  g u a r a n t e e  t h e  f o o d  s a f e t y  o f  s u c h  p r o d u c t s  i n  t h e  
country; 
 to establish common principles and responsibilities, provide for assessment on a 
sound scientific basis, and set forth provisions on and efficient organizational 
procedures for decision-making in respect of the safety of food for human 
consumption and animal feed.  
In this respect, the Law: 
 provides for the creation of two new structures, one responsible for coordinating the 
food safety system (National Coordination Office) and the other in charge of assessing health risks (National Health Risk Assessment Agency). It also establishes the official services and competent authorities in relation to the food safety system 
and defines their areas of competence and mandates and the powers granted to their 
inspectors in the exercise of their functions; 
 establishes procedures in relation to the issues that directly or indirectly affect the 
safety of food for human consumption and animal feed. 
The notified Law regulates all stages of the production of food for human consumption 
and animal feed, from processing to distribution to consumers.  
It also sets out the related non-compliance offences and penalties. G/SPS/N/MDG/20  
 
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  7. Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Is there a relevant international st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) CAC/GL-82-2013: Principles and Guidelines for 
National Food Control Systems  
[ ] World Organisation 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:  
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available: None  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 30 June 2016, at the close of the first 
parliamentary session of 2016 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 31 August 2016 (the President is 
required to enact the Law prior to its publication in the Official Journal of the Republic of 
Madagascar) 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [X] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 28 February 2017 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 15 April 2016 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [X] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
Dr Maharavo Rahantamalala Clarisse  
Autorité Nationale de Notifications SPS 
UPDR/Ministère de l'Agriculture 
Madagascar E-mail: updr.cla@gmail.com 
 maharavoclarisse@gmail.com 
13. Text(s) available from: [X] National Notifi cation Authority, [ ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Dr Maharavo Rahantamalala Clarisse  
Autorité Nationale de Notifications SPS 
UPDR/Ministère de l'Agriculture 
Madagascar E-mail: updr.cla@gmail.com  maharavoclarisse@gmail.com