G/SPS/N/EGY/75  
 
9 November 2015  
(15-5908)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES 
1. Notifying Member:  EGYPT 
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  Central Administration of Plant Quarantine 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable):  
 Seedlings of fruit trees including olive seedlings, citrus seedlings, grapevine, 
seedlings of stone fruits 
 Ornamental plants 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Argentina; Brazil; Canada; Costa Rica; Ecuador; 
Iran; Italy; Mexico; Paraguay; Chinese Taipei; United States of America; 
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of  
5. Title of the notified document: Temporary Suspension of the Importation of 
Ornamental Plants and Seedlings of Fruit Trees from Countries where Xylella Fastidiosa  
is Present  Language(s): Arabic  Number of pages: 2 
6. Description of content: This is an emergency action applied to protect Egyptian 
territories from potential damage as a result of Xylella Fastidiosa . Egypt imports fruit 
seedlings and ornamental plants from infected countries which pose a serious risk to 
agriculture production, especially since there is extensive cultivation in Egypt of plants 
which are hosts for the disease. This emergency action shall be reviewed after the completion of the pest risk assessment in or der to determine the risk of entry of the 
disease from infected countries. 
The following measures have been adopted: 
a. Suspension of the importation of ornamental plants and seedlings of olives, 
grapevines, citrus and stone fruits from the infected countries; 
b. Seedlings of other fruit from the infected countries shall: (i) originate from officially 
recognized pest free areas according to ISPM#4; and (ii) be produced in certified 
nurseries which apply traceability systems. An additional declaration is also required stating that: 
 the ornamental plants or seedlings of fruits have originated from officially 
recognized areas free from Xylella fastidiosa  according to ISPM#4 and have been 
produced in certified nurseries which apply traceability systems; 
 the consignment is free from the xylem feeding insects; 
c. Suspension of the importation of the host plant of Philaenus spumarius,  Prunus 
avium  (sweet cherry), Prunus dulcis  (almond), Prunus persica  (peach), Rubus 
fruticosus  (blackberry), Rubus idaeus  (raspberry), Vitis vinifera  (grapes) from Italy; 
d. Fresh fruits and vegetables imported from the infected countries shall be subject to 
additional inspection to confirm the freedom of the consignment from the xylem feeding insects, and an additional declaration is required to accompany the G/SPS/N/EGY/75 
 
- 2 - 
 
  phytosanitary certificate stating that the consignment has been inspected and found 
free from the feeding insects. 
7. Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [X] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pe st or disease, [X] protect territory 
from other damage from pests.   
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s)  and reason for urgent action: The outbreak of 
Xylella fastidiosa affecting olive trees in the Apulia region of Italy poses a threat to 
Egypt's agriculture production as there is a risk  of introduction of this disease into Egypt. 
Egypt has similar climatic conditions and suitable host plants which are of great economic importance. 
9. Is there a relevant international stan dard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial  n u m b e r  o f  C o d e x  
standard or related text)   
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)   
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number) IPPC 
Art. VII.6 
[ ] None Does this proposed regulation conform to  the relevant international standard? 
[X] Yes   [ ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other relevant documents and langua ge(s) in which these are available:   
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
10 October 2015 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [X] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
Central Administration for Foreign Agricultural Relations  
Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation 1 Nadi El Saïd St., Dokki, Giza, Egypt Tel: +(202) 333 76 589 
 +(202) 374 90 805 
Fax: +(202) 374 90 805 E-mail: enq_egy_sps@yahoo.com 
13. Text(s) available from: [X] National Noti fication Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail a ddress (if available)  of other body:  
Central Administration for Foreign Agricultural Relations 
Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation 1 Nadi El Saïd St., Dokki, Giza, Egypt Tel: +(202) 333 76 589 
 +(202) 374 90 805 
Fax: +(202) 374 90 805 E-mail: enq_egy_sps@yahoo.com