. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/SGP/30 
8 July 2005 
 (05-3043) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION  
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   SINGAPORE
 
If applicable, name of local government involved: 
2. Agency responsible:   Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore 
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):  Live birds other than poultry 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All 
countries.  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:   Veterinary conditions for 
the importation of pet animals - birds (other than domestic birds). 
6. Description of content:  Proposed certification requirements: 
Each consignment of birds shall be accompanied by a veterinary certificate dated within 
seven (7) days of import signed by  a government veterinary authority or registered 
veterinarian of the country of export and e ndorsed by the government veterinary authority, 
giving details of the consignment (consignor, co nsignee, quantity and species or breed of 
birds) and certifying to the effect that: 
(i) The country has been free from highly pathogenic avian influenza and 
velogenic Newcastle Disease for the pa st six (6) months prior to export; 
(ii) The birds were kept in isolation in a facility approved by the government 
veterinary authority since they were hatched or for the 21 days prior to 
shipment and showed no clinical signs of infectious diseases, especially of 
avian influenza, during the isolation period;  
(iii) During the isolation period at term ( ii) above, all birds, or a sample of 
birds from one consignment (not fewer than 20 birds) were subject to a 
serology test for H5 and H7 avian influenza virus, using Agar Gel 
Immunodiffusion Test or Haemagglutination Inhibition Test  and the test 
results are negative.  The test must be carried out within 7 days prior to export to Singapore. For details of the methods, please refer to "OIE Manual of Standards for Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines". 
(iv) The birds were examined on the day of shipment and they showed no 
clinical sign of infectious diseases and were clinical healthy.  
(v) The birds are transported in new and clean containers, according to IATA 
requirements. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [   ] food safety, [ X ] animal health, [   ] plant protection, 
[ X ] protect humans from anima l/plant pest or disease,  [   ]  protect territory from 
other damage from pests G/SPS/N/SGP/30 
Page 2  
 
 8. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [ X ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention, [   ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:   Proposed requirements are consistent with 
adopted OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code for Notifiable Avian Influenza. 
9. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:  Available in English 
10. Proposed date of adoption:   1 September 2005. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:   1 September 2005. 
12. Final date for comments:  29 August 2005 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification 
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or  address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:    
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notificati on authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: 
Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore 
(Attn: Miss Lai Hwee Choo) 
5 Maxwell Road, #02-03 Tower Block,  MND Complex Singapore 069110 Republic of Singapore E-mail:  lai_hwee_choo@ava.gov.sg