Saudi Arabia bans poultry, egg imports from 40 countries, applies partial restrictions to 16 others
Heat-treated poultry products may still enter the Saudi market if certified by exporting authorities.
SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Food and Drug Authority has issued a prohibition on poultry meat and table egg imports originating from 40 countries while placing partial restrictions on selected regions within 16 additional nations as part of health control measures in the Kingdom’s food supply chain.
The regulator said the measures are intended to prevent the potential transmission of disease through imported poultry products while maintaining oversight of international health developments that could affect the domestic food market.
Authorities added that the list of affected countries will be reassessed periodically, meaning adjustments may be made based on changes in global animal health reports and epidemiological updates.
According to information reviewed by Okaz newspaper, some of the restrictions date back to 2004 while other countries were included later following assessments linked to disease outbreaks affecting poultry populations.
Health monitoring conducted by the regulator has focused primarily on the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, a contagious virus that has triggered poultry trade restrictions in several markets worldwide.
Countries Under Full Ban
Under the latest update, imports of poultry meat and table eggs are fully banned from 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, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, India, Hong Kong, Japan, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Serbia, Slovenia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Montenegro.
Officials indicated that the restrictions reflect a precautionary framework that tracks disease outbreaks and applies trade controls when poultry health risks are reported in exporting markets.
Partial Restrictions on Selected Regions
In addition to the full bans, the authority has imposed targeted restrictions on specific states, provinces, or cities in Australia, the United States, Italy, Belgium, Bhutan, Poland, Togo, Denmark, Romania, Zimbabwe, France, the Philippines, Canada, Malaysia, Austria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The regulator clarified that these partial measures allow poultry imports from unaffected regions within the listed countries, provided the products meet all veterinary and food safety requirements.
At the same time, the authority stated that poultry products subjected to heat treatment or equivalent processing that can eliminate viruses associated with avian diseases may still be permitted entry into the Saudi market.
Such products must be accompanied by official veterinary certificates issued by the relevant authorities in the exporting country confirming that processing has neutralized both Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and Newcastle disease pathogens.
Authorities added that even when these conditions are met, the poultry items must originate from facilities approved under Saudi import regulations before shipment to the Kingdom can proceed.
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