G/SPS/N/SAU/522  
8 January 2024  
(24-0160) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA  
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):  Meat and meat products of bovine and sheep  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  European Union  
5. Title of the notified document:  Notice of administrative order of Saudi Food and Drug 
Authority Ref. No. 15736 dated 18 December 2023 entitled "Lifting of the temp orary ban 
on the importation of meat and meat products of bovine and sheep originating from  the 
European Union" . Language(s):  Arabic . Number of pages:  1 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/SPS/SAU/24_00047_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Lifting of the temporary ban on the importation of meat and 
meat products of bovine and sheep originating from the European Union to the Kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest o r disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  After the visit by 
technical team of SFDA  to the European Commission and based on WOAH recommendation 
in chapter 11 .4 about Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and chapter 14 .8 about 
Scrapie, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has decided to lift the temporary ban from the 
importation of meat and me at products of bovine and sheep originating from the 
European  Union member States . 
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 Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Terrestrial Animal Health Code, 
Chapter s 11.4 and 14 .8 
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None G/SPS/N/SAU/522  
 
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  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:   
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 December 2033  
[ ] 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 - Food Sector  
Contact person: Mohammed AL Huthiel  
SFDA - 4904 North Ring branch rd - Hitteen Dist  Unit Number (1) - Riyadh 13513 - 7148 
Tel: +(966 11) 203 8222, Ext.: 3313  
E-mail: spsep.food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.s fda.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 - Food Sector  
Contact person: Mohammed AL Huthiel  
SFDA - 4904 North Ring branch rd - Hitteen Dist Unit Number (1) - Riyadh 13513 - 7148 
Tel: +(966 11) 203 8222, Ext.: 3313  
E-mail: spsep.food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa