. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/SAU/11 
9 March 2011 
 (11-1202) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Notifying Member:  KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  Saudi Standards ,Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Foodstuffs (ICS Code 67.04) 
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:  Updating the Gulf standard No. 1003/2006 "Rice 
Kernels"  Language(s):  Arabic and English  Number of pages:  14 and 10 
 http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2011/sps/SAU/11_0759_00_x.pdf  
 http://members.wto.org/crnattach ments/2011/sps/SAU/11_0759_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia / The Cooperation Council For The 
Arab States of the Gulf updated the Gulf Sta ndard No. 1003/2006 "Rice Kernels" by adding 
items related to definition of Basmati rice and its varieties, requirements, test methods, and 
labelling. 
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.  Prevention of deceptive practices   
8. Is there a relevant international stan dard?  If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex standard 
or related text) Codex Alimentarius 1995. Codex Standard 198-1995. Volume 7 
(53-60) 
[ ] 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 
 G/SPS/N/SAU/11 
Page 2  
 
   If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:    
9. Other relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:   
- International Standard 1998.  Rice specification 7301-1998 
- Gulf Standard (GSO) No. 1003/2006 "Rice Kernels" 
- Indian Order  No. S.O 67 - 68 (E) - Basmati rice - 23 January 2003 
- British code of practice for Basmati rice - July 2005 
- Protocol for the identification of selected  Basmati Rice varieties"- Food Standards 
Agency, London, and CAZS, Univeristy of Wales,Bangor - February 2005 
- Protocol for the quantitative analysis of a dulteration of basmati rice with sherati, 
mugad sugandha, pak 386 or superifine - Food Standards Agency, London, and 
CAZS, Univeristy of Wales, Bangor - February 2006 
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:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  To be determined. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [X] Sixty days  from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  8 May 2011 
Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
http://www.saso.org.sa/ 
Saudi Standards ,Metrology and Quality Organization 
P.O.BOX:  3437 Riyadh 11471  Tel:  +(966 1) 452 0000  Ext 1378-1381-1383 Fax:  +(966 1) 452 0193 E-mail:  enquirypoint@saso.org.sa  
13. Texts available from:  [ ] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
http://www.saso.org.sa/ 
Saudi Standards ,Metrology and Quality Organization 
P.O.BOX:  3437 Riyadh 11471  Tel:  +(966 1) 452 0000  Ext 1378-1381-1383 Fax:  +(966 1) 452 0193 
E-mail:  enquirypoint@saso.org.sa