1.

Notifying Member: Singapore

If applicable, name of local government involved:  

2.

Agency responsible: Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA)

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): Horses

4.

Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:

[X]     All trading partners  

[ ]       Specific regions or countries:  

5.

Title of the notified document: Veterinary Conditions for Import of Horses  Language(s): English  Number of pages: 29

http://www.ava.gov.sg/NewsEvents/WTONotifications/

6.

Description of content: The Veterinary Conditions for Import of Horses has been amended as follows:

For the protocols relating to permanent and temporary import of horses into Singapore:

·         no case of Hendra virus infection has been reported in horses in the countries of residence for the last three months prior to export;

OR

·         if Hendra virus infections were reported in horses in the countries of residence for the last three months prior to export.

i.            In the case of an unvaccinated horse, the horse must be subject to a pre-export quarantine for 21 consecutive days prior to export, under veterinary supervision and must be tested for Hendra virus infection by ELISA test with negative results within 14 days prior to export;

ii.          In the case of a vaccinated horse (the vaccinations must be up-to-date and proof of vaccination must be submitted, which could be in the form of a vaccination certificate and registration on a vaccination database), the horse must be subject to a pre-export quarantine for 21 consecutive days prior to export, under veterinary supervision and must not show any clinical signs of Hendra virus infection during the 21 day pre-export quarantine.

7.

Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection, [ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from pests.  

8.

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)  

[ ]       World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic Animal Health Code, chapter number)  

[ ]       International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)  

[X]     None

Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard? 

[ ] Yes   [ ] No

If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the international standard:  

9.

Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: http://www.ava.gov.sg/NewsEvents/WTONotifications/ (available in English)

10.

Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy): 18 February 2014

Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy): 18 February 2014

11.

Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication, and/or (dd/mm/yy): 19 February 2014

[X]     Trade facilitating measure  

12.

Final date for comments: [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification and/or (dd/mm/yy): 20 April 2014

Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ ] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e?mail address (if available) of other body:

Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore

(Attn: Dr Audrey Chen)

5 Maxwell Road, #18-00

Tower Block, MND Complex

Singapore 069110

Republic of Singapore

E-mail: Audrey_chen@ava.gov.sg

13.

Texts available from: [ ] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e?mail address (if available) of other body:

Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore

(Attn: Dr Audrey Chen)