G/SPS/N/ARE/96, G/SPS/N/BHR/166  
G/SPS/N/KWT/14, G/SPS/N/OMN/65  
G/SPS/N/QAT/69, G/SPS/N/SAU/244, 
G/SP S/N/YEM/10  
 
16 January 2017  
(17-0288) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES , KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN , THE STATE OF 
KUWAIT, OMAN, QATAR,  KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARA BIA, YEMEN  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible: SPS Enquiry  point, Saudi Food and Drug Authority  
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): Fruits and vegetables  (ICS Code: 67.080)  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia/The Cooperation Council 
for the Arab States of the Gulf Draft Technical Regulation for: "Fresh Okra" . 
Language(s): Arabic . Number of pages: 9 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/SPS/ARE/17_0314_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content: This draft technical regulation applies to fresh okra 
requirements, which is suitable for human consumption, and it does not include the okra 
intended for manufacturing.  
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. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : Standard for okra CODEX STAN 318 -2014 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :   
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number) :   
[ ] 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:   
9. Other relevant documents and lang uage(s) in which these are available:     G/SPS/N/ARE/96 • G/SPS/N/BHR/166 • G/SPS/N/KWT/14 • G/SPS/N/OMN/65 • G/SPS/N/QAT/69 
• G/SPS/N/SAU/244, G/SPS/N/YEM/10  
 
- 2 - 
 
  10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ]  Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm /yy): 180 days from date of publication of approved version  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 17 March 2017  
Agency or authority designated to ha ndle comments: [ ]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
SPS Enquiry point, Saudi Food and Drug Authority  
SFDA - 3292 North Ring road Al Nafel Area Unt (1) - Riyad h 13312 - 6288 
Tel: +(966 11) 203 8222, Ext. 3358  
Fax: +(966 11) 210 9825  
E-mail: SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa  
13. Text(s)  available from: [ ]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
SPS Enquiry point, Saudi Food and Drug Authority  
SFDA - 3292 North Ring road Al Nafel Area Unt (1) - Riyadh 13312 - 6288 
Tel: +(966 11) 2038222, Ext. 3358  
Fax: +(966 11) 2 10 9825  
E-mail: SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa