G/SPS/N/MYS/40  
 
1 August 2017  
(17-4180) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMER GENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member : MALAYSIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Department of Fisheries (DOF) Malaysia  
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 (HS Code that may be impacted: 
0301.99)  
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 : Notice of temporary emergency conditions for the 
importation of live tilapia fish into Malaysia . Language (s): English . Number of 
pages:  3 
6. Description of content: The Department of Fisheries (DOF) is enacting this notice in 
accordance with Section 40. Control of Live Fish  of the Fisheries Act 1985 (Act 317). The 
purpose of this notification is to inform all countries of the temporary emergency 
measures for the importation of live tilapia fish. 
The main contents of the announcement are as follows:  
1. Exporting country shall ensure that the tilapia fish are sourced from approved farm 
and under official control of the Competent Authority (CA);  
2. Health Certificate shall be issued by the Competent Authorit y (CA) of the exporting 
country;  
3. Exporting country shall ensure that the fish consignment originated from a zone free 
from OIE -listed diseases and Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) . There should not be any 
disease outbreak for a period of two years prior to export.  
This temporary emergency measures are due to unacceptable biosecurity risks of live 
tilapia fish infected with Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) and shall come into effect for a period 
of six months starting f rom 24 July 2017.  
7. Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection,  
[ ] protect humans fro m animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pest s.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reas on for urgent action: To address 
biosecurity risks associated with imported live tilapia fish. Tilapia lake virus (TiLV) is 
exotic to Malaysia and infects all species of tilapia fish. Therefore there is high risk of 
TiLV entering Malaysia with imported liv e tilapia fish. G/SPS/N/MYS/40  
 
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  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.  Terrestr ial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : OIE Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) disease 
card as published in May 2017  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant intern ational standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other r elevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  To be 
available in the internet homepage of the DOF : http://www.dof.gov.my  (available in 
English ). 
11. Date of entry into force  (dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
24 July 2017/ For a period of six months  
[ ] Trade facilit ating  measure   
12. Agency or au thority designated to handle comments : [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
Fisheries Biosecurity Division  
Department of Fisheries Malaysia  
3rd Floor, Podium 2, Block 4G2, Wisma Tani, Precint 4  
Federal Government Administrative Centre  
62628 Putrajaya, Malaysia  
Tel: +(60 3) 8870 4000  
Fax: +(60 3) 8890 3794  
E-mail: spsdof@dof.gov.my  
13. Text(s)  available from:  [ ] National Notification Authority, [ X] National En quiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:  
Fisheries Biosecurity Division  
Department of Fisheries Malaysia  
3rd Floor, Podium 2, Block 4G2, Wisma Tani, Precint 4  
Federal Government Administrative Centre  
62628 Putrajay a, Malaysia  
Tel: +(60 3) 8870 4000  
Fax: +(60 3) 8890 3794  
E-mail: spsdof@dof.gov.my