- Saudi Arabia bans poultry imports citing avian influenza risks
- Saudi Arabia bans poultry imports from 40 countries, partial curbs on 16 nations
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia bans poultry imports from India and 39 other countries under a new decision by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. The authority also imposed partial restrictions on specific regions in 16 nations. Officials said the move aims to protect public health and ensure food safety in the Kingdom.
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority stated that the ban targets poultry and table eggs. It said the step reduces risks linked to animal diseases. It also ensures the safety of food products entering the Kingdom. However, the authority clarified that it will update the list of affected countries periodically. It will review global health developments and epidemiological changes before making revisions.
According to a recent review cited by Arabic daily Okaz, some countries have faced import restrictions since 2004. Meanwhile, others were added over the years after risk and international reports. These reports were particularly linked to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Therefore, the authority noted that the decision reflects its continuous monitoring of the global disease situation.
The full ban applies to imports 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.
Meanwhile, partial restrictions cover certain 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 Congo. However, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority clarified that the temporary measures do not apply to poultry products that have undergone adequate heat treatment and comply with approved health and safety requirements.
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