By Business Reporter
Dubai: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has announced a ban on poultry meat and table egg imports from 40 countries, along with partial restrictions on specific regions in 16 other nations, as part of precautionary measures to safeguard public health and ensure food safety in the Kingdom.
The authority stated that the list of affected countries remains under continuous review, in line with global epidemiological developments and international health reports.
Avian Influenza Concerns
According to the SFDA, some bans date back to 2004, while others were introduced gradually following risk assessments and outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) and other animal diseases worldwide.
Countries Under Full Ban
The updated list includes:
- 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
- Montenegro
Partial Restrictions
Partial bans apply to specific regions in:
- Australia
- United States
- Italy
- Belgium
- Bhutan
- Poland
- Togo
- Denmark
- Romania
- Zimbabwe
- France
- Philippines
- Canada
- Malaysia
- Austria
- Democratic Republic of Congo
Exception for Heat-Treated Products
The SFDA clarified that the temporary ban does not apply to heat-treated poultry meat and related products, provided they meet approved health and safety standards.
Such products must:
- Originate from approved facilities in the exporting country
- Be accompanied by official certification
- Be processed in a way that eliminates avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses
The authority emphasised that the measures are precautionary and subject to updates depending on international health developments.
