G/SPS/N/MUS/16  
 
15 May 2018  
(18-2895) Page: 1/2 
Committee on  Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  MAURITIUS  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Livestock and Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agro Industry 
and Food Security  
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): All Ready to Eat (RTE) meat products  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: South Africa  
5. Title of the notified document: Temporary restriction on importation of Ready to Eat 
meat pr oducts from South Africa due to the prevalence of Listeriosis . Language(s): 
English.  Number of pages: 2 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/MUS/18_ 2470_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: The notice relates to the decision taken by the Livestock and 
Veterinary Services Of The Ministry Of Agro Industry And Food Security for a temporary 
restriction on all ready -to-eat meat products imported from South Africa due to the 
outbreak of Listeria  contamination.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] 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 fo r urgent action: This emergency 
measure is being implemented to manage the sanitary risk associated with the presence of 
Listeria  contamination in ready -to-eat meat products from South Africa.  
The decision has been taken following the recent outbreak of Listeria  contamination in 
ready -to-eat meat in South Africa. Following confirmation from the Ministry of Health in 
South Africa that the source of Listeria  contamination has been traced to processed meat 
products that are being sold as ready to eat products,  the Livestock and Veterinary 
Services Of The Ministry Of Agro Industry And Food Security of Mauritius has imposed a 
temporary restriction on all ready -to-eat meat products imported from South Africa.  
All processed meat products imported from South Africa,  namely polonies, hams, Vienna, 
cold meats and pre -cooked sausages have been removed from the local market by the 
Food Import Unit of the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life. The Ministry of Health and 
Quality of Life in collaboration with the Livestock  and Veterinary Services Of The Ministry 
Of Agro Industry And Food Security, is investigating consignments on the market, that 
have been previously imported from South Africa and a surveillance programme has also 
been set up.  G/SPS/N/MUS/16  
 
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  9. Is there a relevant intern ational standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : CAC/GL 61 - 2007 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] 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 f rom 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): 
Immediate effect     
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:  
Dr D. Meenowa, Assistant Director  
Livestock and Veterinary Division  
Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security  
Reduit  
Mauritius  
Tel: +(230) 464 0881  
Fax: +(230) 464 2210  
E-mail: moa -dvs@govmu.org  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:  
Dr D. Meenowa, Assistant Director  
Livestock and Veterinary Division  
Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security  
Reduit  
Mauritius  
Tel: +(230) 464 0881  
Fax: +(230 ) 464 2210  
E-mail: moa -dvs@govmu.org