G/SPS/N/SAU/255  
 
3 March 2017  
(17-1292) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanit ary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMER GENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member : KINGDOM OF  SAUDI ARABIA   
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  Animal and Plant Quarantine 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 equine  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the  extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners    
[X] Specific regions or countries: Germany  
5. Title of the notified document : Notice of Ministry of Environment, Water and 
Agriculture, Decision No. 156262 dated 19 February 2017 (22/05/1438H) en titled 
"Temporary Ban of importation of live Equine from Germany" . Language (s):  . 
Number of pages:    
6. Description of content: Following the OIE report, ref. No. 3, Vol. 30 dated 18 January 
2017, which indicates that Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) outb reak has reoccurred in 
Germany, i t is deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prevent the entry 
of EIA disease into the country. Therefore, the import of equine from Germany to the 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is temporarily suspended.  
7. Objective  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 outbr eak of EIA 
was reported by official announcement of the World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE) on 18 January 2017 in Germany. This urges the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to 
institute this emergency measure to prevent the entry of EIA virus into 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 ):   
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)  (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic  
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Animal Terrestrial Health Code , 
Chapter 12.5  
[ ] Internation al Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :   
[ ] None  G/SPS/N/SAU/255  
 
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  Does this proposed regulation conform to the re levant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [ ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard :   
10. Other r elevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:      
11. Date of entry into force  (dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
19 February 2017  (22/05/1438H)  
[ ] Trade facilit ating  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  
Animal and Plant Quarantine Department  
King Abdel Aziz Road, Riyadh 11195  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  
Tel: +(966 11) 4044292  
 +(966 11) 4016666 Ext. 3074  
Fax: +(966 11) 4011323  
E-mail: ossamaalsaleh2@gmail.com  
Webs ite: 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  
Animal and Plant Quarantine Department  
King Abdel Aziz Road, Riyadh 11195  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  
Tel: +(966 11) 4044292  
 +(966 11) 4016666 Ext. 3074  
Fax: +(966 11) 4011323  
E-mail: ossamaalsaleh2@gmail.com  
Website: http://www.moa.gov.sa/public/portal