. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/QAT/24 
25 July 2011 
 (11-3744) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Notifying Member:  QATAR 
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Environment 
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):  ICS Code: 67.040 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Gulf region  
5. Title of the notified document:  Rice Kernels  Language(s):  Arabic and English  
Number of pages:  14 et 10 
 http://members.wto.org/crnattach ments/2011/sps/QAT//11_2384_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  This Draft Technical Regulation c oncerns adding items related to 
definition of Basmati rice and its varieties, requirements, testing 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.    
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 St andard 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 
 If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:    G/SPS/N/QAT/24 
Page 2  
 
  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 Select ed Basmati Rice Varieties - Food Standards 
 Agency, London,and CAZS, University 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) :  Upon publication in the Official Journal         
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  Six (6) months as from the date of application 
in the Official Journal. 
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) :  23 September 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  
13. Texts available from:  [ ] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
Ministry of Environment  
Standard department  P.O. Box:  23277 
State of Qatar 
E-mail:  standard@qatar.net.qa