G/SPS/N/SAU/313  
 
30 October 2017  
(17-5884) 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: Thailand  
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 Thailand" . Language(s): . Number 
of pages:  
6. Description of content: Following the OIE  report, ref. No. 39, Vol. 30 dated 
24 September 2017, which indicates that Tilapia Lake Virus disease has occurred in 
Thailand, it is deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prevent the entry of 
the disease into the country. Therefore, the imp ortation of live fish from Thailand 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 
Tilapia Lake Virus disease was reported by official announcement of the World 
Organization for Animal Health in Thailand. This urges the Kingdom  of Saudi Arabia to 
institute this emergency measure to prevent the entry of the disease 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 Code x 
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  G/SPS/N/SAU/313  
 
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  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  
(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 a ddress (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