G/SPS/N/SGP/55  
 
4 September 2015  
(15-4476)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
1. Notifying Member: SINGAPORE 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible: Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Live horses - HS Code: 0101.21.00 and HS Code: 
0101.29.00 
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: Veterinary Conditions for Import of Horses  
Language(s): English  Number of pages:   
http://www.ava.gov.sg/newsroom  
http://www.ava.gov.sg/legislation  (Animals and Birds Act) 
6. Description of content: The Veterinary Conditions for Import of Horses have been 
amended to align with OIE's guidelines by updating the testing methods for Piroplasmosis and Surra ( Trypanosome evansi ). The residency requirement in the 
Veterinary Conditions for Permanent Import of horses was also amended to be 
consistent with the terminology used in that for Temporary Import.  
The Veterinary Conditions for Import of Horses were amended as follows: 
For the protocol for the permanent import of horses into Singapore:  
(a) Included "competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA)" as an 
option for testing of Equine Piroplasmosis in addition to the current indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT).  
(b) Replaced "haematological concentration methods" with "card agglutination test 
(CATT)" as the test for Surra ( Trypanosome evansi ). ELISA was already the test 
method for Surra.  
(c) Amended the text of the residency condition from: 
"The horses had been resident in the country of export continuously for at least 
three months immediately prior to export." 
To 
"The horses had been resident in any of the country or countries listed in this Regulation continuously for at least 3 months immediately prior to export." 
For the protocol for the temporary import of horses into Singapore:  
(a) Included "competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA)" as an 
option for testing of Equine Piroplasmosis in addition to the current indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). G/SPS/N/SGP/55 
 
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 (b) Replaced "haematological concentration methods" with "ELISA or card agglutination 
test (CATT)" as the test for Surra ( Trypanosome evansi ). 
For the protocol for the return of horses from international races and competitions:  
(a) Included "competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA)" as an 
option for testing of Equine Piroplasmosis in addition to the current indirect 
fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). 
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. Is there a relevant international stan dard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial  n u m b e r  o f  C o d e x  
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 12.10  
[ ] 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 language (s) in which these are available: 
http://www.ava.gov.sg/newsroom  (available in English) 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 1 November 2015 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 1 November 2015 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 2 November 2015 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 31 October 2015 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore 
Attn: Regulatory Administration Group 52 Jurong Gateway Road, #14-01 
Singapore 608550 
Republic of Singapore 
E-mail: WTO_CONTACT@ava.gov.sg 
13. Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notifi cation Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore  
Attn: Regulatory Administration Group 
52 Jurong Gateway Road, #14-01 
Singapore 608550 Republic of Singapore E-mail: WTO_CONTACT@ava.gov.sg