   
  
G/SPS/N/SAU/523  
8 January 2024  
(24-0162) Page: 1/2 
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 number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Meat and meat products of bovine and sheep  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Switzerland; United Kingdom  
5. Title of the notified document:  Notice of administrative order of Saudi Food and Drug 
Authority Ref. No. 16692 dated 27 December 2023 entitled "Liftin g of the temporary ban 
on the importation of meat and meat products of bovine and sheep originating from the 
United Kingdom and Switzerland" . Language(s):  Arabic . Number of pages:  1 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/SPS/SAU/24_00130_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Lifting of the temporary ban on the importation of meat and 
meat products of bovine and sheep originating from the United Kingdom and Switzerland 
to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [X]  animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from ani mal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  Referring to the 
administrative order of Saudi Food and Drug Authority No. 16692 , after reviewing the 
health situation outcome which indicate s that Switzerland is free from Bovine spongiform 
encephalopathy (BSE) and Scrapie, and the United Kingdom is free from Bovine 
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) , and based on WOAH recommendation in chapter 11 .4 
about Bo vine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and chapter 14 .8 about Scrapie, the 
Kingdom of Saudi  Arabia has decided to lift the temporary ban from the importation of 
meat and meat products of bovine and sheep originating from the United Kingdom and 
Switzerland.  
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) :  
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Terrestrial Animal Health Code, 
Chapter s 11.4 and 14 .8 
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  G/SPS/N/SAU/523  
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] 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 language(s) in which these are available:    
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
27 December 2033  
[ ] 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:   
Saudi Food and Drug Authority - Food Sector  
Contact person: Mohammed AL Huthiel  
SFDA - 4904 North Ring branch rd - Hitteen Dist Unit Number (1) - Riyadh 13513 - 7148 
Tel: +(966 11) 203 8222, Ext.: 3313  
E-mail: spsep.food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa  
13. Text(s)  available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Saudi Food and Drug Authority - Food Sector  
Contact person: Mohammed AL Huthiel  
SFDA - 4904 North Ring b ranch rd - Hitteen Dist Unit Number (1) - Riyadh 13513 - 7148 
Tel: +(966 11) 203 8222, Ext.: 3313  
E-mail: spsep.food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa  
 