G/SPS/N/SAU/257  
 
3 March 2017  
(17-1295) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary 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 a nd 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 birds, hatching eggs and one -day old chicks  
4. Regions or cou ntries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners    
[X] Specific regions or countries: Italy 
5. Title of the notified document : Notice of Ministry of Environment, Water and 
Agriculture, Decision No. 153132 dated  9 February 2017 (12/05/1438H) entitled 
"Temporary Ban of importation of Live Bird, Hatching Egg and One day Old Chick" 
originated from Italy . Language (s):  . Number of pages:    
6. Description of content: Following the OIE report, ref. No. 4, Vol. 30 date d 23 January 
2017, which indicates that High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) ou tbreak has 
reoccurred in Italy, i t is deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prevent 
the entry of HPAI disease into the country. Therefore, the import of live bir ds, hatching 
eggs and one -day old chicks from Italy 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 outbreak of 
HPAI was reported by official announcement of the World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE) on 23 January 2017 in Italy. This urges the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to institute 
this emergency measure to prevent the entry of HPAI virus into the country.  
9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard :  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or seria l 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 10.4  
[ ] Internation al Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :   
[ ] None  G/SPS/N/SAU/257  
 
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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 langua ge(s) in which these are available:      
11. Date of entry into force  (dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
9 February 2017 (12/05/1438H)  
[ ] 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  
Website: http://www.moa.gov.sa/public/portal  
13. Text(s)  available from:  [ ] National Notification Authority, [ X] National Enquiry 
Point. A ddress, 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