Saudi Food and Drug Authority imposes sweeping import restrictions as part of heightened measures to protect public health and food safety

Saudi Arabia has imposed a sweeping ban on poultry and egg imports from Nigeria, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and 37 other countries, citing growing concerns over animal disease outbreaks and food safety risks.

The restriction, announced by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), is a precautionary move aimed at protecting public health and safeguarding the Kingdom’s food supply. In addition to the full ban, Saudi authorities also placed partial restrictions on specific provinces and cities in 16 other countries.

According to the SFDA, the decision follows ongoing global risk assessments and international reports on the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza and other poultry-related diseases.

Several African countries are affected by the ban, including Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Cameroon, Libya, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Niger and Côte d’Ivoire. Others on the list span Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

The Saudi Gazette reports that the list of banned countries is reviewed regularly and updated in line with global health developments. Okaz newspaper further revealed that while some countries have remained on the ban list since 2004, others were added gradually based on evolving epidemiological data.

Countries under a total ban include Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Djibouti, China, Iraq, Palestine, Vietnam, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, South Korea, North Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, India, Hong Kong, Japan, Serbia, Slovenia, Montenegro, alongside Nigeria and several African nations.

Meanwhile, a partial ban applies to selected regions 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.

Despite the restrictions, the SFDA clarified that certain poultry products may be exempted. Poultry meat and related products that have been adequately heat-treated or processed to eliminate the Newcastle disease virus will be allowed, provided they meet Saudi health regulations.

Such products must be accompanied by an official health certificate from the exporting country, confirming that the processing method is sufficient to neutralise the virus and that the products originate from approved facilities.

The SFDA said the measures underscore its commitment to closely monitoring global disease trends and ensuring the highest food safety standards in the Saudi market.