Decision of the Deputy Minister of Agriculture No. (234079) dated 25/11/1444 AH

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture

Based on the powers granted to him by law

And pursuant to Article (Thirty-Six) of the Agriculture System, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/64) dated 10/8/1442 AH, which approves the Agriculture System, and Ministerial Decision No. (14967/1/1444) dated 15/1/1444 AH, which approves the Implementing Regulation of the Agriculture System, and the approval of His Excellency the Minister dated 11/3/1444 AH, No. (26555/2384/1444) dated 9/3/1444 AH, to delegate the Deputy Minister of Agriculture with the authority to issue the technical guidelines related to the Implementing Regulation of the Agriculture System, and to issue the conditions and controls related to it, and to amend them, as required by the interest of work.

It is decided as follows:

• First: Approval of the "Detailed Guide for the Controls of Importing Aquatic Organisms for Aquaculture Purposes to the Kingdom" in the attached format.

• Second: This decision shall take effect from its date, and shall be communicated to those required for its implementation and compliance, and shall annul any previous decisions that conflict with it.

And may God grant success.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture

Eng. Ahmed bin Saleh Ayadah Al-Khamshi

The current and promising future development witnessed by the aquaculture sector in the Kingdom is in line with the development of the biosecurity system aimed at preventing the entry of pathogens. Therefore, this detailed Order has been prepared, which includes lists of pathogens that must be detected in aquatic organisms imported into the Kingdom for aquaculture purposes. These lists include the pathogenic agents mentioned in the lists of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), as well as a list of other pathogens issued by the General Directorate of Fisheries at the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, which the Directorate believes negatively affects the health status of cultured aquatic organisms, and it is updated periodically.

This Order also includes a list of reference laboratories where the aforementioned pathogens are tested, as well as a list of proposed companies supplying aquatic organisms to the Kingdom and inspection companies. The Saudi Aquaculture Society will provide any new proposals in due course to the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, and this Order will be updated periodically according to developments.

This Order is based on what is stated in Chapter Three (General Requirements), paragraph (3) regarding the conditions for importing shipments of aquatic organisms, from the regulation for controlling the quality of imported aquatic organisms in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, approved by His Excellency the Minister of Agriculture on 8/11/1430 AH, and circulated to all relevant authorities under Circular No. 35657 dated 8/2/1431 AH.

The detailed Order for the controls on the import of aquatic organisms for the purpose of aquaculture to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia includes the following essential aspects:

The types of aquatic organisms that are currently allowed to be imported into the Kingdom for the purpose of aquaculture are specified by the species listed below. If the breeder wishes to bring in a species that is not on the list, they must submit a request to the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, along with proof that this species is among the existing species in the Red Sea or the Arabian Gulf or inland waters, and that it has been successfully cultivated, and there is an economic feasibility for its cultivation that justifies the risk involved in bringing it in. The Ministry will verify its source and request the documents it deems necessary to mitigate the risks of bringing it into the Kingdom. The breeder must also provide sufficient information about the entity from which they wish to import, and they must prove to the Ministry the quality and efficiency of this source.

The currently specified species are:

• A- Fish species:

  • 1- Asian Seabass – (Lates calcarifer)

  • 2- European Seabass – (Dicentrarchus labrax)

  • 3- Mediterranean / European Seabream – (Sparus aurata)

  • 4- Amberjack – (Siriola Spp.)

  • Species:

    • - (Siriola Dumerili)

    • - (Siriola lalandi)

  • 5- Silver seabream – (Sparidentex hasta)

  • 6- Tilapia – (Oreochromis spp)

  • 7- Grouper – (Epinephelus Coioides)

  • 8- Carp – (Cyprinus Carpio)

  • 9- Meager – (Argyrosomus regius)

• B- Shrimp:

• Whiteleg shrimp – (Litopenaeus vannamei)

• The lists of pathogens for imported aquatic organisms, whether specific to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) or the General Directorate of Fisheries at the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, will be limited to those species that are currently allowed for importation for aquaculture purposes and mentioned above, which are subject to periodic updates according to new developments.