. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/SGP/5
4 June 1999
(99-2257)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  SINGAPORE
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Primary Production Department, Mini stry of National Development
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, whereapplicable). Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Horses for racing, polo and equestrian
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Animals and Birds (Importation)
Order as amended by the Animals and Birds (Importation) (Amendment) Order 1999
5. Description of content:  The document covers the revised veterinary requirements for the
importation of horses into Singapore.  These are:  requiring horses from all countries
approved for import of horses into Singapore to be imported with an import licence, each
horse imported to have an equine passport or equivalent, additional certification/test for
freedom from Hendra, Hendra-like (Nipah) virus infection, African Horse Sickness andpost-import quarantine of at least two weeks for all imported horses.
6. 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           
7. Nature of the urgent problem(s):  Recent reports of Hendra virus infections affecting
horses which is transmissible to humans, Hendra-like (Nipah) virus infections affecting
humans and horses, and African Horse Sickness affecting horses.  Singapore is free from
Hendra virus infection, Hendra-like (Nipah) virus infection and African Horse Sickness
disease.  The revised requirements are required to prevent the introduction of such diseasesthrough the import of horses into Singapore.
8. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give its appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:           
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  English
10. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):  1 June 1999G/SPS/N/SGP/5
Page 2
11. Texts available from/and 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:
Primary Production Department
Attn:  Dr. Chew Hong or Dr. Tay Choon Nghee5 Maxwell Road, #02-00/03-00
Tower block, MND Complex
Singapore 069110
Republic of Singapore
E-mail:  CHEW Hong@PPD.gov.sg or TAY Choon Nghee@PPD.gov.sg