Kuwait lifts ban on Brazilian poultry while imposing new restrictions on US imports

KUWAIT – Kuwait’s Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (PAFN) has announced a new set of trade measures affecting poultry meat imports, citing avian influenza concerns and recent health updates from major exporting countries.

The authority has lifted the existing ban on poultry imports from Brazil following a recommendation by the Supreme Committee for Food and Water Security during a meeting held on Sunday, July 20.

According to PAFN, the decision to resume Brazilian poultry imports comes after Brazil was declared free of bird flu, a key factor that had previously triggered the suspension.

The lifting of the ban applies to all categories of poultry meat from Brazil, including fresh, chilled, frozen, processed products, and their derivatives.

However, while Brazil’s access to the Kuwaiti market has been restored, authorities have imposed a fresh ban on poultry imports from several regions in the United States due to new outbreaks of bird flu.

This move was reported by Reuters, which cited a statement from the official Kuwaiti news agency KUNA on Sunday.

The adjustments reflect ongoing efforts by Kuwait to protect domestic food safety while balancing the need for reliable sources of poultry meat.

Brazil had previously faced a blanket ban by Kuwait, covering all poultry exports including those from regions not affected by bird flu.

An update from Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock on July 15 indicated that Kuwait had already narrowed its ban to cover only the municipality of Montenegro, having earlier banned the entire state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Kuwait’s poultry market dynamics

In 2023, Kuwait imported poultry meat worth US$364 million, ranking it the 20th largest importer of poultry globally.

Brazil was the leading supplier with exports valued at US$211 million, followed by Saudi Arabia (US$63 million), the United Arab Emirates (US$27.2 million), Oman (US$21.9 million), and Ukraine (US$15.5 million).

When it comes to fresh or chilled whole poultry, Saudi Arabia was the top source in 2023, supplying US$34 million worth, while the UAE and Oman contributed US$181,000 and US$118,000 respectively.

Between 2022 and 2023, poultry meat imports from Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Canada recorded the highest growth rates.

Kuwait’s domestic poultry production accounts for approximately 30% of national demand, with the remaining 70% covered through imports.

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