G/SPS/N/ARE/159, G/SPS/N/BHR/191  
G/SPS/N/KWT/42, G/SPS/N/OMN/88  
G/SPS/N/QAT/92, G/SPS/N/SAU/365  
G/SPS/N/YEM/33  
 
9 July 2018  
(18-4307) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES , KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN, THE STATE OF 
KUWAIT, OMAN, QATAR,  KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA,  YEMEN  
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible: Saudi Food and Drug Authority  
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): Fruits, vegetables (ICS Code: 67.080)  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:  
5. Title of the notified document: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia/The Cooperation Council 
for the Arab States of the Gulf draft Technical Regulation for "Loose Dates" . Language(s): 
Arabic.  Number of pages: 21 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/SPS/SAU/18_3546_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content: This draft technical regulation  concerns fresh dates, washed, 
rehydrated, dried, covered or pasteurized dates of different types of date palm that are 
suitable for human consumption. It does not apply to dates for industrial processing.  
7. Objective and r ationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : CODEX  Standard for Dates, No. 143 -1985 
[ ] 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 from the 
international standard :  G/SPS/N/ARE/159 • G/SPS/N/BHR/191 • G/SPS/N/KWT/42 • G/SPS/N/OMN/88 • G/SPS/N/QAT/92 
• G/SPS/N/SAU/365  •G/SPS/N/YEM/33  
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
 UNECE Standard DDP -08-(Whole Dates);  
 Saudi standards for dates. The national centre for palms and dates – Ministry of 
Environment, Water and Agriculture;  
 GCC Standardization Organization (GSO), repacked whole dates, GSO 656/2014.   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [X]  Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) :  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 7 September 2018  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notifica tion 
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 Unt (1) - Riyadh 13312 - 6288 
Tel: +(966 11) 203 8222, Ext. 3358  
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 Unt (1) - Riyadh 13312 - 6288 
Tel: +(966 11) 203 8222, Ext. 3358  
Fax: +(966 11) 210 9825  
E-mail: SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa