 
. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/MUS/12 
15 September 2004 
 (04-3865) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS
 
If applicable, name of local government involved: 
2. Agency responsible:   M i n i s t r y  o f  A g r i c u l t u r e ,  F o o d  Technology and Natural Resources, 
Veterinary Services Division 
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):   All importation of live poultry and pigs including their frozen and chilled 
products intended for consumption, animal  feed, agricultural use and industrial use 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:   
South Africa 
5. Title, language  and number of p ages of the notified document:  Suspension of import 
of live poultry and pig as well as their chilled a nd frozen products (a vailable in English, 
2 pages) 
6. Description of content:  The Division of Veterinary Services suspends with immediate 
effect the importation of live poultry and pigs as well as thei r frozen and chilled products 
intended for human consumption, animal feed , agricultural use and industrial use from the 
Republic of South Africa. 
7. 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  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:   Highly Pathogenic Avian 
Influenza Virus has been reported in ostriches in  South Africa.  This disease has never been 
reported in Mauritius.  Given the significant importance of the local poultry in Mauritius, the 
Veterinary Services Division has decided to suspend the importation of live poultry and pork 
as well as their frozen and chilled products in tended for human consum ption, animal feed, 
agricultural use and industrial use from the Republic of South Africa with immediate effect 
so as to prevent the risk of introducing this  virus in Mauritius.  The emergency import 
restriction measures will be reviewed on the basi s of health status and information on disease 
control measures provided by the relevant authorities of South Africa. 
9. International standard, gu ideline 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:  G/SPS/N/MUS/12 
Page 2  
 
 10. Relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:   English 
11. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):   1 August 2004 
12. 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 notification authority, [ X ] National enquiry 
point,  or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: 
Ministry of Agriculture, Food Technology and Natural Resources 
Plant Pathology and Quarantine Division 
Reduit, Mauritius 
Tel: +230 464 4872 Fax: +230 465 9591 Email: plpath@intnet.mu
, moa-pathology@mail.gov.mu  
 
 