G/SPS/N/SAU/188  
 
22 December 2015  
(15-6841)  Page: 1/2  
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:  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 koi carps fish 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries: Austria  
5. Title of the notified document: Notice of Ministry of Agriculture Decision No. 76190 
dated 25 November 2015 (13/2/1437 AH), Temporary ban of importation of live koi carps fish - originated from the Republic of Austria  Language(s): Arabic  Number of 
pages: 1 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2015/SPS/SAU/15_5013_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content: According to the message of the World Organization for 
Animal Health (OIE) dated 6 November 2015, which indicates koi herpes virus disease 
outbreak in Austria, it is deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prevent the entry of koi herpes virus disease into the country. Therefore the import of live koi 
carps fish from Austria 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:  Due to the 
presence of koi herpes virus disease outbreak in Austria that infects koi carps 
(OIE listed, disease), the competent authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is instituting this emergency measure to prevent the entry of koi herpes virus disease into 
the country. Therefore, the import of live koi carps fish from Austria to Kingdom of Saudi 
Arabia is temporarily suspended.  
9. Is there a relevant international stan dard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial  n u m b e r  o f  C o d e x  
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 1.4 " Aquatic Animal health surveillance" 
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)   G/SPS/N/SAU/188 
 
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  [ ] 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): 
25 November 2015 
[ ] 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:  
Ministry of Agriculture  
Animal and Plant Quarantine Department 
king Abd ul aziz road Tel: +(966 1) 4044292 
 +(966 1) 4016666 Ext. 3074 
Fax: +(966 1) 4011323 E-mail: alfadlg@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:  
Ministry of Agriculture 
Animal and Plant Quarantine Department king Abd ul aziz road 
Tel: +(966 1) 4044292 
 +(966 1) 4016666 Ext. 3074 Fax: +(966 1) 4011323 
E-mail: alfadlg@hotmail.com 
Website: http://www.moa.gov.sa/public/portal