. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/SAU/23 
14 February 2012  
 (12-0855) 
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 numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable):  Raw, chilled and frozen poultry m eat and eggs, and their products 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  South Africa  
5. Title of the notified document:  Notice of Executive Order of Saudi Food and Drug 
Authority Ref. No. (32/33) dated 21 Ja nuary 2012 (27/02/1433 AH) entitled "Temporary 
Ban of Importation of Raw, Chilled and Fr ozen Poultry Meat and Eggs, and Their 
Products" originated from South Africa  Language(s):  Arabic  Number of pages:  3 
 http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2012/sps/SAU/12_0622_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Following the OIE reports, Ref. No. 11551, dated 
1 February 2012, a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H7N1) outbreak has 
reoccurred in South Africa.  It is deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to 
prevent the entry of avian influenza viruses into  the country.  Therefore, the import of raw, 
chilled and frozen poultry meat and eggs, and their products (with the exception of 
processed poultry meat and egg products exposed to either heat or other treatments that 
ensure deactivation of avian influenza viru ses) from the affected area to the Kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia is temporarily suspended. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ ] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[X] 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:  An outbreak of highly 
pathogenic avian influenza virus (H7N1) was reported by official announcement of the 
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE ).  It started on 21 October 2011 in South 
Africa, and it reoccurred on 19 December 2011.  The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is 
instituting this emergency measure to prev ent the entry of highly pathogenic avian 
influenza viruses into the country. G/SPS/N/SAU/23 
Page 2  
 
  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)   
[ ] 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):   
21 January 2012 (27/02/1433 AH) 
[ ] 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:   
SPS Enquiry point, Saudi food & Drug Authority  
SFDA - 3292 North Ring road Al Nafel Area Unit (1) - Riyadh 13312 - 6288 Tel.:   +(966 1) 275 9222, Ext. 3358 Fax:   +(966 1) 210 9825 E-mail:  SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa 
Website:  http://www.sfda.gov.sa  
13. Texts available from:  [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
SPS Enquiry point, Saudi food & Drug Authority 
SFDA - 3292 North Ring road Al Nafel Area Unit (1) - Riyadh 13312 - 6288 Tel.:   +(966 1) 275 9222, Ext. 3358 Fax:   +(966 1) 210 9825 
E-mail:  SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa 
Website:  http://www.sfda.gov.sa