G/SPS/N/SYC/3  
 
13 March 2018  
(18-1532) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  SEYCHELLES  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Public Health Authority , Ministry of Health  
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): All processed meat products  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to th e extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: South Africa  
5. Title of the notified document: South African processed meat banned following update 
on Listeria  contamination . Language(s): English.  Number of pages: 1 
http://www.seychellestradeportal.gov.sc/news/temporary -ban-all-ready -eat-meat-
products -imported -south -africa  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/SYC/18_1318_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: The notice relates to the decision taken by the Seychelles 
Government for a temporary ban on all ready -to-eat meat products imported from South 
Africa  due to the outbreak of Listeria  contamination.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[X] protect humans from animal/pla nt pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action: An urgent measure 
has been implemented to manage the sanitary risk associated with the presence of Listeria  
contamina tion in ready -to-eat meat products in South Africa.  
The decision has been taken following the recent outbreak of Listeria  contamination in 
ready -to-eat meat in South Africa. Following confirmation from the Ministry of Health in 
South Africa that the source  of Listeria  contamination and the outbreak is processed meat, 
the Seychelles Public Health Authority has imposed a temporary ban on all ready -to-eat 
meat produ cts imported from South Africa.  
All processed meat products imported from South Africa, namely polonies, hams and pre -
cooked sausages are being removed from the local market. Since the outbreak of Listeria 
started in South Africa several months ago, the Public Health Authority has set up  a 
surveillance programme to test products that are already in the country.  G/SPS/N/SYC/3  
 
- 2 - 
 
  9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : CAC/GL 61 - 2007  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the rel evant 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): 
6 March 2018  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body: