. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/CHN/16
25 February 2003
(03-1142)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
If applicable, name of local government involved:
2. Agency responsible:   General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and
Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ)
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):   Calathea ornate  and other host plants of Radopholus similes  (Cobb) Thorne
and potting medium origin from the Netherlands
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:   The
Netherlands
5. Title, language  and number of pages of the notified document:   Notice of taking an
emergency interim quarantine measure on host plants of Radopholus similes  (Cobb)
Thorne and potting medium originating from a Dutch company (2 pages)
6. Description of content:   AQSIQ-Local authority intercepted a quarantine pest – Radopholus
similes  (Cobb) Thorne - from a consignment of Calathea ornate  from the Netherlands.  As
the pest is dangerous to the Chinese economy and forbidden to enter China by Chinese
regulations, the Chinese plant quarantine authority suspended all host plants of the pest and
potting medium originating from Hilverda Bl oemen B.V. company in the Netherlands in
order to protect the safety of Chinese agriculture and forestry production.
7. Objective and rationale:  [    ] food safety, [   ] animal health, [ X ] plant protection,
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest  or disease, [ X ]  protect territory from
other damage from pests
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:   Prevent Radopholus
similes  (Cobb) Thorne from spreading to China.
9. International standard, gu ideline or recommendation:
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] Office International des Epizooties,
[   ] International Plant Prot ection Convention, [ X ] None
If an international standard , guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:
10. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:   Notice 2003 No.8
(Available in Chinese)G/SPS/N/CHN/16
Page 2
11. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):   14 February 2003
12. Agency or authority designated to handl e 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 a ddress (if available) of other body: