G/SPS/N/SAU/316  
 
30 October 2017  
(17-5889) 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 fish  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Malaysia  
5. Title of the notified document: Notice of the Ministry of Environment Water and 
Agriculture, Decision No. 3 4/1291/1439 dated 18 October 2017 (28/1/1439H) entitled 
"Temporary ban on the  importation of live fish from Malaysia" . Language(s): . Number 
of pages:  
6. Description of content: Following the OIE report , ref. No. 39, Vol. 30 dated 
25 September 2017 , which  indicates that Tilapia Lake Virus d isease has occurred in 
Malaysia, i t is deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prevent the entry of 
the disease into the country. Therefore, the importation of live fish from Malaysia to the 
Kingdom of S audi 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:  
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) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [ X] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard: Emerging disease  G/SPS/N/SAU/316  
 
- 2 - 
 
  (http://www.oie.int/fileadmin /Home/eng/Internationa_Standard_Setting/docs/pdf/A_TiLV_
disease_card.pdf ) 
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): 
18 October 2017 (28/1/1439 H)  
[ ] 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 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: [  ] 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