WORLD TRADE G/SPS/N/CHE/4
19December 1996
ORGANIZATION
(96-5364)
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
NOTIFICATION
1. Member toAgreement notifying: SWITZERLAND
Ifapplicable, name oflocal government involved:
2. Agency responsible: Swiss Federal Veterinary Office, CH-3097 Liebefeld-Berne
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) asspecified innational schedules deposited with
theWTO. ICSnumbers may beprovided inaddition, where applicable): 0102, 0104
4. Title andnumber ofpages ofthenotified document:
(a) Conditions fortheimport ofbovines (4pages, available inGerman andFrench)
(b) Conditions fortheimport ofovines andcaprines (4pages, available inGerman
andFrench)
5. Description ofcontent: Amendment totheimport conditions issued on3October 1988
(bovines) and20January 1989 (ovines andcaprines), adding theprovision thatthe
animals must originate from acountry where thefeeding ofruminants withmammalian
proteins (except milkandmilkderivatives) islegally prohibited. Theanimals must be
bornatleast18months aftersuchafeedbanwasintroduced.
6. Objective andrationale:
Prevention ofBSE/Protection ofhuman health andsafety.
Switzerland hasintroduced alegalbantofeedmeatmeal, bonemealetc.toruminants
already in1990. When exporting liveanimals, Switzerland guarantees thattheanimals
arebornatleast18months aftertheintroduction ofthefeedban. Theproposed
amendment aimsatensuring thatanimals imported from abroad havethesame status
regarding apossible exposure toBSEasSwiss animals.
7. Aninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation does notexist [X].
Ifaninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations:
Theproposed amendment isincompliance withrecommendation contained in
Article 3.2.13.4 oftheInternational Animal Health Code which focuses ontheimport
ofcattle from countries withalowincidence ofBSE. Itis,however, applied onall
countries, asthere isnointernationally agreed standard todefine acountry as"free
from BSE", because theminimum requirements foraneffective surveillance arenot
defined yet.
There exists nocorresponding standard forsheep andgoats sofar.
./.G/SPS/N/CHE/4
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8. Relevant documents andlanguage(s) inwhich these areavailable: Legal basis:
Ordinance ontheimport, transit andexport ofanimals andanimal products of
20April 1988
9. Proposed date ofadoption: Notstated.
10. Proposed date ofentry intoforce: 01.01.1997
11. Final date forcomments: 20.12.1996
Agency orauthority designated tohandle comments:
12. Texts available from: National enquiry point []oraddress, telefax number andE-mail
address (ifavailable) ofother body:
Swiss Federal Veterinary Office
Schwarzenburgstrasse 161
CH-3097 Liebefeld-Berne
Switzerland
Tel: +41-31-323 8517
Fax: +41-31-323 8522