G/SPS/N/SAU/262  
 
21 March 2017  
(17-1564) 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: Greece  
5. Title of the notified document : Notice of Ministry of Environment Water and 
Agriculture, Decision No. 178328 dated  9 March 2017 (10/06/1438 AH) entitled 
"Temporary Ban of Importation of Live Bird, Hatching Egg and One -day Old Chick" 
originated from Greece . Language (s):  . Number of pages:    
6. Description of content: Following the OIE report, ref. No. 10, Vol. 30 dat ed 3 March 
2017, which indicates that High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) o utbreak has 
occurred in Greece, 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 birds,  hatching 
eggs and one -day old chicks from Greece 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 3 March 2017 in Greece. This urge s 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 nu mber 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/262  
 
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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 language(s ) in which these are available:      
11. Date of entry into force  (dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
9 March 2017  (10/06/1438 AH)  
[ ] Trade facilit ating  measure    
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments : [ ] National Notificat ion 
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 Arab ia 
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. Addre ss, 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