Saudi Arabia Bans Poultry Meat and Egg Imports from 40 Countries

                            

New Delhi: 

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has imposed a full ban on the import of poultry meat and table eggs from 40 countries, aiming to protect public health and strengthen food safety within the Kingdom. In addition, partial restrictions have been placed on certain states and regions in 16 other countries.

According to the SFDA, the decision was taken based on global animal disease risk assessments, particularly the threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, and international animal health reports. The authority stated that the list of banned countries will be reviewed periodically and may be updated depending on global health developments.

40 Countries Under Full Ban

The full import ban applies to the following countries:

Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Djibouti, South Africa, China, Iraq, Ghana, Palestine, Vietnam, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Cameroon, South Korea, North Korea, Laos, Libya, Myanmar, United Kingdom, Egypt, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, India, Hong Kong, Japan, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Serbia, Slovenia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Montenegro.

                                            Partial Restrictions on 16 Countries

Partial bans have been imposed on specific regions or states in:

Australia, United States, Italy, Belgium, Bhutan, Poland, Togo, Denmark, Romania, Zimbabwe, France, Philippines, Canada, Malaysia, Austria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

                                      Conditional Exemption for Processed Products

The SFDA clarified that the ban does not apply to poultry products that have been sufficiently heat-treated or processed to destroy avian influenza or Newcastle disease viruses. However, such products must be accompanied by an official health certificate issued by the exporting country’s competent authority, confirming compliance with Saudi health standards and approved processing procedures.

Some Restrictions in Place Since 2004

The authority noted that certain countries have been under restriction since 2004, while others were added more recently due to new bird flu outbreaks. The move is part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing strategy to monitor global animal health and ensure the safety of its food supply.

                          

                                                Impact on Global Poultry Trade

Experts believe the decision could significantly impact international poultry trade, particularly for countries that export poultry meat and eggs to Saudi Arabia.