. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/SAU/20 
31 October 2011  
 (11-5499) 
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):  Meat and meat by-products (chille d, frozen and processed), from cattle, 
sheep, goats and camelidae 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Paraguay  
5. Title of the notified document:  Notice of Executive Order of Saudi Food and Drug 
Authority Ref. No. 154/32 dated 18 Oc tober 2011 entitled "Temporary Ban of the 
Importation of Meat and Meat By-Products (Chilled, Frozen and Processed) from Cattle, 
Sheep, Goats and Camelidae Originated from Paraguay  Language(s):  Arabic  Number of 
pages:  1 
 http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2011/sps/SAU/11_3543_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Following the OIE reports, a foot and mouth disease outbreak has 
occurred in Paraguay, it is deemed necessary for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prevent 
the entry of FMD disease into the country.  Th erefore, the import of meat and meat by-
products (chilled, frozen and processed) from cattle, sheep, goats and camelidae from the 
affected areas to the Kingdom of Saudi  Arabia is temporarily suspended.  
7. Objective and rationale:  [X] 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:  An outbreak of foot and 
mouth disease (FMD) has been reported in Pa raguay.  The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is 
instituting this emergency measure to prevent the entry of foot and mouth disease into the 
country. 
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/20 
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):   
18 October 2011 
[ ] 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) 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) 275 9222 Ext: 3358 Fax:  +(966) 1 210 9825 E-mail:  SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa 
Website:  http://www.sfda.gov.sa