G/SPS/N/GHA/4  
 
11 July 2018  
(18-4358) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  GHANA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:  Ministry of Fisheries and 
Aquaculture Development  
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development  
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): Tilapia   species and ornamental  fishes: 
HS Codes:  0303.23.00.00,   0301.10.00.00, 0301.11.00.00  
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: Ban On Tilapia Species And Ornamental Fish Imports . 
Language(s): english.  Number of pages: 1 
6. Description of content: Ban on the Import of Tilapia  Species and Ornamental fishes, 
including gametes due to the emergence of Tilapia Lake Virus that is associated with 
significant mortalities in farmed tilapia. Cases have been reported across Africa, Asia and 
South America that the Virus represents a huge risk to the global tilapia industry.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [X]  protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action: Tilapia Lake Virus 
has been reported across Africa, Asia and South Amer ica and supposed ly represent s a 
huge risk to the global tilapia industry. The Ban is one of the immediate measure s being 
taken to prevent and control the virus since its treatment is not known.  G/SPS/N/GHA/4  
 
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  9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identif y the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standa rd:  
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): 
1 July 2018    
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:  
Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development   
P.O. Box GP 630  
Accra -Ghana  
Dr. Peter Ziddah  
Email: peterzid2010@gmail.com  
Cell number: +(233 244) 254 048  
Office number: +(233 302) 675 155  
Fax: +(233 302) 675 146  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:  
Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development   
P.O. Box GP 630  
Accra -Ghana  
Dr. Peter Ziddah  
Email: peterzid2010@gmail.com  
Cell number: +(233 244) 254 048  
Office number: +(233 302) 675 155  
Fax: +(233 302) 675 146