G/SPS/N/SAU/335  
 
23 January 2018  
(18-0564) 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:  Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)  
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): Frozen and processed guava  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners  
[X] Specific regions or countries: Egypt  
5. Title of the notified document: Notice of Administrative Order of Saudi Food and Drug 
Authority Ref. No. 19500 dated 11 January 2018 (24/04/1439 A H) entitled "Temporary 
Ban on the Importation of Frozen and Processed Guava" originating from Egypt . 
Language(s): . Number of pages:  
6. Description of content: Based on results of official controls on fresh guava from Egypt 
showing non -compliance with international standards, the Ministry of Environment, Water 
and Agriculture published Decision No. 161/1291/1439 dated 25 December 2017 imposing 
a temporary ban on the importation of fresh guava originating from Egypt. Therefore, the 
import of frozen and p rocessed guava from Egypt to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is 
temporarily suspended.  
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 for urgent action: The results of official 
controls done by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture on fresh guava from 
Egypt show non-compliance  with international standards requirements as regards pesticide 
residues. Therefore, these results demonstrate a serious risk for human health due to the 
presence of pesticide residues at levels largely exceeding the international standards.  
9. Is there a re levant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
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  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  G/SPS/N/SAU/335  
 
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  [ ] 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): 
18 January 2018 (01/05/1439 AH)  
[ ] 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:  
Saudi  Food and Drug Authority  
SFDA - 3292 North Ring road Al Nafel Area Unit (1) - Riyadh 13312 - 6288 
Tel: +(966 11) 275 9222, ext. 3331  
Fax: +(966 11) 210 9825  
E-mail: SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa  
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:  
Saudi Food and Drug Authority  
SFDA - 3292 North Ring road Al Nafel  Area Unit (1) - Riyadh 13312 - 6288 
Tel: +(966 11) 275 9222, ext. 3331  
Fax: +(966 11) 210 9825  
E-mail: SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa