G/SPS/N/SAU/293  
 
21 August 2017  
(17-4466) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sani tary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMER GENCY 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 bird s, hatching egg s and one -day old chick s 
4. Regions or countr ies likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries: West-Vlaanderen, Belgium; South Africa; Togo  
5. Title of the notified document : Notice of Ministry of Environment, Water and 
Agriculture, Decision No. 224/1291/1438 dated 6 August 2017 (14/11/1438AH) entitled 
"Temporary ban of importation of live bird s, hatching egg s and one -day old chick s" 
originating from South Africa, Togo and West -Vlaanderen, Belgium . Language (s): . 
Number of p ages:   
6. Description of content: Following the OIE reports, r ef. No. 24102 dated 19 June 2017, 
ref. No . 24127 dated 22 June 2017 and r ef. No. 24198 dated 3 July 2017, which indicate 
that High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks have occurred in W est-
Vlaand eren, Belgium, South Africa and Togo, 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 bird s, hatching egg s and one -day old chick s from West -Vlaanderen, 
Belgium, So uth Africa and Togo 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: Outbreaks of HPAI 
were reported by official announcement of the World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE) in West -Vlaanderen, Belgium, South Africa and Togo. 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 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) : Terrestrial Animal Health Code, 
Chapter 10.4  G/SPS/N/SAU/293  
 
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  [ ] Internation al Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
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): 
6 August 2017 (14/11/1438 AH)  
[ ] Trade facilit ating  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:  
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: sanad@mewa.sa  
Website: http://www.moa.gov.sa/public/portal  
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:  
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: sanad@mewa.sa  
Website: http://www.moa.gov.sa/publ ic/portal