G/SPS/N/SAU/290  
 
18 August 2017  
(17-4426) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMER GENCY 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  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the exten t relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries: Egypt  
5. Title of the notified document : Notice of Ministry of Environment, Water and 
Agriculture, Decision No. 292/1291/1438 dated 30 July 2017 (7/11/1438H) entitled 
"Temporary ban on the importation of live fish" from Egypt . Language (s): . Number of 
pages:   
6. Description of content: Following the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) special 
alert No. 338, dated 26 May 2017, which indicates that Tilapia Lake Virus  outbreak has 
occurred in Egypt, it is deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prevent 
the entry of the disease into the country. Therefore, the import of live fish from Egypt to 
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is temporarily suspended.  
7. Objecti ve 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 reason for urgent action: An outb reak of 
Tilapia Lake Virus was reported by official announcement of the Food and Agriculture 
Organization (FAO) on 26 May 2017 in Egypt. This urges the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to 
institute this emergency measure to prevent the entry of Tilapia Lake Virus i nto the 
country.  
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 ):  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)  (e.g.  Terrest rial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] Internation al Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  G/SPS/N/SAU/290  
 
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  Does this proposed regulation conform to the re levant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [ ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possi ble, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard :  
10. Other r elevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), special alert No. 338, dated 26 May 2017   
11. Date of entry into force  (dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
30 July 2017 (7/11/1438 AH)  
[ ] Trade facilit ating  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 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: sanad@mewa.sa  
Website:  http://www.moa.gov.sa/public/portal  
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 Environment, Water and Agriculture  
Livestoc k Risk Assessment Department  
King Abdel Aziz Road, Riyadh 11195  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  
Tel: +(966 11) 4044292  
 +(966 11) 4016666  
E-mail: sanad@mewa.sa  
Website: http://www.moa.gov.sa/public/portal