The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has announced a total ban on the importation of poultry meat and table eggs from 40 countries, citing public health concerns and the need to strengthen food safety standards in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The decision, according to the authority, follows ongoing global disease concerns, particularly outbreaks of avian influenza, and forms part of routine risk assessment measures aimed at preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
Countries affected by the full ban include Afghanistan, China, Germany, India, the United Kingdom, Japan, Nigeria, Egypt, Iran and Bangladesh, among others.
In addition to the total ban, the SFDA said partial import restrictions have been imposed on specific regions in 16 other countries.
However, the authority clarified that heat-treated poultry products that meet strict health certification requirements will still be permitted into the Kingdom under approved safety standards.
