Jordan lifts poultry import ban on Brazil as bird flu threat eases

JORDAN – Jordan is once again allowing poultry meat imports from Brazil after halting them in June due to an outbreak of avian influenza, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Musbah Tarawneh, the Assistant Secretary-General for Livestock Affairs, confirmed on Wednesday that the restrictions had been withdrawn following an improvement in the animal health situation in Brazil.

He told Al Mamlaka TV that the initial decision to suspend imports came after a confirmed case of bird flu, which raised concerns about potential risks to public health and the domestic poultry industry.

The ban affected shipments of live poultry and frozen chicken products that had not undergone heat treatment, in line with the ministry’s precautionary measures.

Tarawneh explained that Jordan typically brings in between 8,000 and 10,000 tonnes of frozen chicken from Brazil each year, most of which is supplied to restaurants and food outlets across the country.

Since the outbreak, technical teams from the ministry have been monitoring global disease reports to assess the safety of continuing trade in animal products.

He said the ministry had been waiting for reliable data from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) confirming that Brazil had brought the situation under control before lifting the ban.

Brazil had reported multiple bird flu cases in mid-June, which prompted Jordan to act swiftly by suspending imports until further notice.

At the time, Jordan’s agricultural authorities stated that the restrictions would remain until Brazil demonstrated compliance with international disease prevention protocols.

Now that the WOAH has confirmed that Brazil’s poultry sector has returned to safe operating conditions, Jordan has resumed imports.

Tarawneh added that the ministry will continue to monitor the global health status of livestock-exporting nations and would take immediate action again if necessary.

Brazil is one of the largest poultry exporters in the world, having shipped chicken products worth approximately US$10 billion (about 35 percent of the global poultry trade) in the past year.

The temporary halt in imports had raised concerns among local businesses that rely heavily on Brazilian chicken due to its availability and competitive pricing.

However, with trade now back on track, restaurant suppliers are expected to resume sourcing from Brazil in the coming weeks.

The ministry said it remains committed to ensuring food safety and supporting the agricultural sector without compromising public health.

Trade resumption to benefit local market

Importers and distributors are likely to welcome the ministry’s decision, which will help stabilise poultry supply and avoid potential shortages in the hospitality sector.