G/SPS/N/MAR/38  
14 August 2014  
(14-4712)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: French  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
1. Notifying Member: MOROCCO 
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible: Office National de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits Alimentaires , 
ONSSA (National Office for Food Safety) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff it em number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS nu mbers should be provided in addition 
where applicable): Import ban on live animals and animal products.  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Algeria  
5. Title of the notified document: Interdiction d'importation des animaux vivants et des 
produits animaux en provenance de l'Algérie  (Import ban on live animals and animal 
products from Algeria) Language(s): French Number of pages: 1 
6. Description of content: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is one of the most contagious 
diseases affecting domestic and wild cloven-hoofed animals. It causes considerable 
economic losses and hinders international trade in animals and animal products. 
The disease can be transmitted directly or indirectly by live animals, animal products, 
human beings or vehicles; the FMD virus can even be transmitted by air. In view of Morocco's FMD status (no cases have been recorded since 1999 and vaccination was 
terminated in 2007), the FMD outbreak in Alge ria poses a potential risk, as cross-border 
transmission of the virus may affect Moroccan livestock and agricultural products destined for export. 
The Moroccan veterinary authorities have therefore introduced a number of measures to 
minimise the risk of the FMD virus crossing the border into Morocco, most notably a ban on the importation of live animals and animal products from Algeria. 
7. Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [X] animal heal th, [ ] plant protection, [ ] 
protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  G/SPS/N/MAR/38 
- 2 - 
  8. Is there a relevant international st andard? If so, identify the standard: 
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) 
[X] World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)  OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, 
Chapter 8.7 (Articles 8.7.1 to 8.7.49)  
[ ] 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. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 1 August 2014 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 1 August 2014  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Si x months from date of publication, and/or 
(dd/mm/yy) : 1 August 2014 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days  from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable  
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [X] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and email address (if 
available) of other body: 
National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) 
13. Texts available from: [X] National Noti fication Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and email address (if available) of other body: 
National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) 
http://www.onssa.gov.ma/