G/SPS/N/SAU/159  
 
2 June 2015  
(15-2877)  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:  Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) 
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): Poultry meat, eggs and their products 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries: Thimphu, Bhutan  
5. Title of the notified document: Notice of Executive Order of Saudi Food and Drug 
Authority Ref. No. 99/36 dated 13 May 2015 (24/07/1436 AH) entitled "Temporary ban of importation of poultry meat, eggs and their products" originated from Thimphu, 
Bhutan  Language(s): Arabic  Number of pages: 1 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2015/SPS/SAU/15_2218_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content: Following the OIE reports, Ref. No. 17533 dated 
16 April 2015, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (HPAI) outbreaks have occurred 
in Thimphu, Bhutan. In compliance with Article 10.4.4, Chapter 10.4 of the World O r g a n i z a t i o n  f o r  A n i m a l  H e a l t h  ( O I E )  T e r r e s t r i a l  A n i m a l  H e a l t h  C o d e ,  i t  i s  d e e m e d  
necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prevent the entry of HPAI into the country. 
Therefore, the import of poultry meat, eggs and their products (with the exception of processed poultry meat and egg products exposed to either heat or other treatments 
that insure deactivation of avian influenza viruses) from Thimphu, Bhutan to the 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is temporarily suspended. 
7. Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[X] protect humans from animal/plant pe st or disease, [ ] protect territory 
from other damage from pests.   
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s)  and reason for urgent action: Outbreaks of HPAI 
have been reported in Thimphu, Bhutan by official announcement of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is instituting this 
emergency measure to prevent the introduction of HPAI into the country. 
9. Is there a relevant international stan dard? 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) Chapter 10.4 of the World Organization 
for Animal Health (OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Code G/SPS/N/SAU/159 
 
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  [ ] 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:   
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 May 2015 (23/07/1436 AH) 
[ ] 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:  
SPS Enquiry point, Saudi Food and Drug Authority  
SFDA – 3292 North Ring road Al Nafel Area Unit (1) – Riyadh 13312 – 6288 Tel: +(966 1) 275 9222, ext. 3331 
Fax: +(966 1) 210 9825  
E-mail: SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa  Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa/  
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:  
SPS Enquiry point, Saudi Food and Drug Authority 
SFDA – 3292 North Ring road Al Nafel Area Unit (1) – Riyadh 13312 – 6288 
Tel: +(966 1) 275 9222, ext. 3331 Fax: +(966 1) 210 9825 
E-mail: SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa/