. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/SAU/26 
16 May 2012  
 (12-2644) 
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):  Bovine meat (raw, chilled, frozen and processed) 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  United States of America  
5. Title of the notified document:  Notice of Executive Order of Saudi Food and Drug 
Authority Ref. No. (90/33) dated 9 May 2012  (18/06/1433 AH) entitled "Temporary Ban of 
Importation of Bovine Meat (Raw, Chilled, Frozen and Processed)" originated from the 
United States of America  Language(s):  Arabic  Number of pages:  1 
6. Description of content:  Following the OIE reports, Ref. No. 11893, dated 26 April 2012, 
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) disea se outbreak has reoccurred in California 
(United States of America).  It is deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to 
prevent the entry of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) disease into the country.  Therefore, the import of bovine meat (raw, chilled, frozen and processed) from the United States of America to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is temporarily suspended. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [X] 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 Bovine 
Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) was reported by official announcement of the World 
Organization for Animal Health (OIE).  It started on 19 April 2012 in California (United 
States of America), and was confirmed on 23 April 2012.  The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is instituting this emergency measure to pr event the entry of Bovine Spongiform 
Encephalopathy (BSE) disease into the country due  to the risk of transmission of the BSE 
agent to animals and humans through consumption of infected animal products. 
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)   G/SPS/N/SAU/26 
Page 2  
 
  [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):  9 May 2012  
(18/06/1433 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