G/SPS/N/SAU/330  
 
20 December 2017  
(17-7107) 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 cattle  
4. Regions  or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Spain  
5. Title of the notified document: Notice of Ministry of Environment, Water and 
Agriculture, Decision No. 124/12 91/1439 dated 11 December 2017 (23/03/1439 HA) 
entitled "Temporary Ban on the Importation of Live Cattle" originating from Spain . 
Language(s): . Number of pages:  
6. Description of content: Following the OIE report, ref. No. 48, Vol. 30 dated 
24 November 2017, which indicates that Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy diseas e (BSE) 
has occurred in Spain, i t is deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi Arab ia to prevent 
the entry of the d isease into the country. Therefore, the importation of live cattle from 
Spain to the Kingdom of Saudi 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: An outbreak of 
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy disease (BSE) was reported by official announcement 
of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) in Spain. This urges the Kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia to institute this emergency measure to prevent the entry of BSE into the 
country.  
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 r elated text) :  
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Animal T errestrial health code, 
Chapter  2.4.5.  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  G/SPS/N/SAU/330  
 
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  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:  
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): 
11 December 2017 (23/03/1439 HA)  
[ ] 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: anml.rsk@mewa.gov.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 othe r 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: anml.rsk@mewa.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.moa.gov.sa/public/portal