G/SPS/N/SAU/345  
 
9 March 2018  
(18-1447) 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:  Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)  
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): Poultry meat, eggs and their products  
4. Regions or countries likely to be  affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Groningen, Netherlands  
5. Title of the notified document: Notice of Executive Order of Saudi Food and Drug 
Authority Ref. No. 29560 dated 5 Marc h 2018 (17/06/1439 AH) entitled "Temporary ban 
on the importation of poultry meat, eggs and their products" originating from Groningen, 
Netherlands . Language(s): . Number of pages:  
6. Description of content: Following the OIE report, Ref. No. 26025 dated  27 February 
2018, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (HPAI) outbreaks have occurred in 
Groningen, Netherlands. In compliance with the World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Code Chapter 10.4, it is deemed necessary for t he 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prevent the entry of HPAI into the country. Therefore, the 
import of poultry meat, eggs and their products (with the exception of processed poultry 
meat and egg products exposed to either heat or other treatments that ensure 
deactivation of avian influenza viruses) from Groningen, Netherlands to the Kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia is temporarily suspended.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] 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: Outbreaks of HPAI  
have been reported in Groningen, Netherlands by official announcement of the World 
Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is instituting this 
emergency measure to prevent the introduction of HPAI 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 C ode, chapter number) : Terrestr ial Animal Health Code, 
Chapter  10.4 
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  G/SPS/N/SAU/345  
 
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  [ ] 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 language(s) in which these are available:    
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
5 March 2018 (17/06/1439 AH)  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:  
Saudi Food and Drug Authority  
SFDA - 3292 North Ring road Al Nafel Area Unit (1) - Riyadh 13312 - 6288 
Tel: +(966 11) 275 9222, ext. 3331  
Fax: +(966 11) 210 9825  
E-mail: SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:  
Saudi Food and Drug Authority  
SFDA - 3292 North Ring road Al Nafel Ar ea Unit (1) - Riyadh 13312 - 6288 
Tel: +(966 11) 275 9222, ext. 3331  
Fax: +(966 11) 210 9825  
E-mail: SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa