G/SPS/N/SAU/347  
 
14 March 2018  
(18-1569) 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 fish including ornamental fish  
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 Environment,  Water an d 
Agriculture, Decision No. 244/1291/1439 dated 27 February 2018 (11/06/1439H) entitled 
"Temporary ban on the  importation of live fish including ornamental fish from South 
Africa" . Language(s): . Number of pages:  
6. Description of content: Following the OIE reports, ref. No. 6, Vol. 31 dated 2 February 
2018 which indicates that Koi herpesvirus disease and Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome 
occurred in South Africa, it is deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to 
prevent the entry of the diseases into  the country. Therefore, the importation of live fish 
including ornamental fish from South Africa to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is temporarily 
suspended.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect hu mans 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 Koi 
herpesvirus disease and Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome was reported by official  
announcement of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) in South Africa. 
This urges the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to institute this emergency measure to prevent the 
entry of the diseases into the country.  
9. Is there a relevant international standar d? 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 A nimal Health Code, 
Chapter  10.2 and Chapter 10.7  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  G/SPS/N/SAU/347  
 
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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 language(s) in which these are available:    
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
27 February 2018  
[ ] 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  
King Abdel Aziz Road, Riyadh 11195  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  
Tel: +(966 11) 4044292  
 +(966 11) 4016666  
E-mail: anml.rsk@mewa.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.moa.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  
King Abdel Az iz Road, Riyadh 11195  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  
Tel: +(966 11) 4044292  
 +(966 11) 4016666  
E-mail: anml.rsk@mewa.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.moa.gov.sa/public/portal