G/SPS/N/SAU/215  
 
24 October 2016  
(16-5797) Page: 1/2 
Commi ttee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMER GENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member : KINGDOM OF  SAUDI ARABIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  Animal and Plant Quarantine Department, Ministry of 
Environment, Water a nd 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 catfish  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the  extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners    
[X] Specific regions or countries: Zimbabwe  
5. Title of the notified document : Notice of Ministry of Environment, Water and 
Agriculture Decision No. 497840 dated 21 September 2016, "Temporary ban  of 
importation of live catfish " originating from the Republic of Zimbabwe.  Language(s):  . 
Number of pages:    
6. Description of content: Based on the OIE communication received on  19 August 2016 
indicating an outbreak of Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome in Zimbabwe, it has been 
deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prevent the entry of this 
syndrome into the country. Therefore, the imports of live catfish from Zimbabwe to the 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been temporarily suspended.  
7. Objectiv e and rationale: [ ] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection,  
[ ] protect humans fro m animal/plant pest or disease, [ ]  protect territory from 
other damage from pest s.   
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action: An outb reak of 
Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome, which infects catfish, has occurred in Zimbabwe. In order 
to prevent the entry of Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome into the country, the competent 
authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended the im ports of live 
catfish from Zimbabwe.  
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 ):   
[X] World Organization for Animal Healt h (OIE)  (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Aquatic Animal Health Code - 
Chapter 10.2  
[ ] Internation al Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :   
[ ] None  G/SPS/N/SAU/215  
 
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  Does this proposed regulation conform to the re levant internati onal standard?  
[X] Yes   [ ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard :   
10. Other r elevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
11. Date of entry into force  (dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
From the date of issuance of the ban from the Ministry of Environment, Water and 
Agriculture , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia o n 21 September 2016 (20 -12-1437 H).  
[ ] Trade facilit ating  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 Agriculture  
Animal and Plant Quarantine Department  
king Abd ul aziz road  
Tel: +(966 11) 4044 292 
+(966 11) 4016666 Ext. 3074  
Fax: +(966 11) 4011323  
E-mail: ossamaalsaleh2@gmail.com  
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 Agriculture  
Animal and Plant Quarantine Department  
king Abdul -Aziz road  
Tel: +(966 11) 4044292  
+(966 11) 4016666 Ext. 3074  
Fax: +(966 11) 4011323  
E-mail: ossamaalsaleh2@gmail.com  
Website: http://www.moa. gov.sa/public/portal