. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/BRA/798 
12 March 2012  
 (12-1359) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES 
 
1. Notifying Member:  BRAZIL 
If applicable, name of local government involved:     
2. Agency responsible:  Secretariat of Animal and Plant Health (SDA) / Ministry of 
Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) 
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):  Genetic materials from ruminants 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Countries with notified cases of Schmallenberg 
virus.  
5. Title of the notified document:  Prohibition to import genetic materials from ruminants 
from countries with notified cases of Schmallenberg virus  Language(s):  Portuguese  
Number of pages:  1 
6. Description of content:  According to the above-mentioned notice it is prohibited to 
import genetic material from ruminants into the territory of Brazil from countries with 
notified cases of Schmallenberg virus.  This measure is motivated by the circulation of the Schmallenberg virus in European countries, the fact that the studies published so far do not 
rule out the possibility of transmission of  the agent through semen and embryos of 
ruminants, as well as also the absence of  concrete measures to mitigate risks. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ ] food safety, [X] 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:  Likelihood of 
Schmallenberg virus transmission by semen and embryos of ruminants and lack of concrete 
measures for risk mitigation. 
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)   G/SPS/N/BRA/798 
Page 2  
 
  [ ] 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:    
10. Other relevant documents and langua ge(s) in which these are available:       
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
27 February 2012 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
Secretariat of Agribusiness International Relations - SRI  
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply - MAPA Esplanada dos Ministérios, Bloco "D", 3º andar 70043-900 - Brasília - DF - Brazil 
Tele:  +(5561) 3218-2308/3218-2834 
Fax:  +(5561) 3225-4738 E-mail:  cgomc@agricultura.gov.br Website:  http://www.agricultura.gov.br/  
13. Texts available from:  [ ] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body: