Tuesday, 11th August 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 25th February 2026, 1:34 PM
Saudi Arabia’s Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has imposed a comprehensive ban on the import of poultry and eggs from 40 countries, including Bangladesh and India, as part of efforts to protect public health and safeguard the domestic food supply. In addition, partial import restrictions have been applied to specific regions in 16 other countries.
The SFDA stated that the list of affected countries is regularly reviewed based on the latest global health data and reports related to pandemics and animal diseases. The move aims to mitigate the risk of highly contagious avian diseases, particularly avian influenza (bird flu), and other poultry-related infections.
According to the latest SFDA update, some restrictions have been in place since 2004, while others have been introduced progressively based on risk assessments and international reports of animal disease outbreaks.
| Region | Countries under Full Ban |
|---|---|
| Asia | Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Iran, Indonesia, Taiwan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Nepal, Laos, Hong Kong, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Kazakhstan |
| Europe | Germany, Bulgaria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia, United Kingdom, Montenegro |
| Africa | Egypt, Libya, South Africa, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire |
| Middle East | Iraq, Palestine |
| Americas | Mexico |
| Oceania / Others | Mongolia, Djibouti |
| Countries | Specific Areas Affected |
|---|---|
| Australia, United States, Italy, Belgium, Bhutan, Poland, Togo, Denmark, Romania, Zimbabwe, France, Philippines, Canada, Malaysia, Austria, Democratic Republic of Congo | Certain states or cities within each country |
The SFDA emphasised that these measures are temporary and are not applicable to heat-processed poultry products. Such products must be accompanied by official certification confirming that they have been processed to completely eliminate avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses. Additionally, these products must originate from authorised establishments approved by the exporting country.
This proactive step by Saudi Arabia reflects growing global concern over poultry-related disease transmission and the need for stringent biosecurity measures. Importers and exporters are urged to adhere strictly to SFDA regulations to ensure continued access to the Saudi market.
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