WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/SAU/14 
19 May 2011 
 (11-2529) 
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 Food and Drug Authority 
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:  GCC Guide for Control on Imported Foods 
Language(s):  English and Arabic  Number of pages:  36 
 http://members.wto.org/crnattach ments/2011/sps/SAU/11_1592_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  This Guide describes principles and regulatory requirements to be 
applied by the exporting country and the importing Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) 
countries in assuring the safety and suitability of shipments of imported food.  Specific attestations for animal and plant health cer tification are also provided in the Guide. 
While regulatory requirements and procedur es for imported foods are not as yet fully 
harmonized between the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), this Guide will 
contribute to the harmonization process.  In particular, the countries of the Gulf 
Cooperation Council (GCC) will continue work towards a fully risk-based approach to 
assuring the safety of imported foods. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [X] food safety , [X] animal health, [X] plant protection, 
[X] 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 Standard 198-1995. Volume 7 
(53-60) 
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    G/SPS/N/SAU/14 
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  [ ] 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:  The proposed guide has been based on endorsing Various codex 
definitions and Codex principles of risk anal ysis as well as the texts relevant to food 
imports and health certificates.  These include, but not limited to: 
CAC/RCP 58-2005 
CAC/GL 26-1997  CAC/GL 38-2001 
CAC/GL 67-2008 
CAC/RCP 57-2004 CAC/GL 48-2004 
Additionally, referencing was noted in vari ous parts of the document, including health 
attestations, to the need for harmony with the International parameters set by Codex 
Alimentarius, OIE, IPPC particularly where no GCC requirements are available. 
The document was reviewed by a panel of in ternationally recognized experts to ensure 
consistency with international requirements, where appropriate need feedback of the GCC 
food Safety Committee members. 
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:      
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) :  18 July 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:   
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
  G/SPS/N/SAU/14 
 Page 3 
 
 
  13. Texts available from:  [ ] National Notification Authority, [ ] 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