G/SPS/N/SAU/297  
 
19 September 2017  
(17-4940) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY 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 ornamental fish  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Belgium  
5. Title of the notified document: Notice of Ministry of Environment, Water, and 
Agriculture Decisio n No. 383/1291/1438 dated 22 August 2017 (30/11/1438 AH) entitled 
"Temporary ban on the  importation of live ornamental fish" originating from Belgium . 
Language(s): . Number of pages:  
6. Description of content: Following the OIE report, Ref. No. 24407 dat ed 25 July 2017, 
which indicates that Koi Herpesvirus disease has occurred in Belgium, and in compliance 
with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Aqu atic Animal Health Code 
Chapter  10.7., it is deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to  prevent the 
entry of Koi Herpesvirus disease into the country. Therefore, the import of live ornamental 
fish to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is temporarily suspended.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action: An outbreak of Koi 
Herpesvirus disease was reported in Belgium by official announce ment of the World 
Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is instituting this 
emergency measure to prevent the introduction of Koi Herpesvirus disease into the 
country.  
9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identi fy 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) : Aquatic Animal Health Code Chapter 
10.7. 
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  G/SPS/N/SAU/297  
 
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  Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from t he 
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): 
22 August 2017 (30/11/1438 AH)  
[ ] Trade facilitating 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  
Livestock Risk Assessm ent Department  
King Abdel Aziz Road, Riyadh 11195  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  
Tel: +(966 11) 4044292  
 +(966 11) 4016666  
E-mail: anml.rsk@mewa.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.mewa.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  
Livestock Risk Assessment Department  
King Abdel Aziz Road, Riyadh 11195  
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  
Tel: +(966 11) 4044292  
 +(966 11) 4016666  
E-mail: anml.rsk@mewa.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.mewa.gov.sa/public/portal