Saudi Arabia has suspended poultry and table egg imports from Bangladesh and 39 other countries, tightening controls on international poultry trade as authorities move to protect public health and limit the risk of animal disease entering the domestic market.
The restrictions have been introduced by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) as a precautionary measure linked largely to animal-health risks, particularly outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
The authority has also imposed partial restrictions on poultry products from specific regions in 16 other countries. Saudi authorities said the list is not permanent and will be regularly reviewed based on developments in global animal health and updated epidemiological information.
The latest restrictions affect a wide range of poultry-producing countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and other regions. Countries subject to the full ban include Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, 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.
The measures reflect the continuing impact of poultry diseases on international trade. Highly pathogenic avian influenza can spread rapidly among poultry populations and has become a major concern for governments and the poultry industry because outbreaks can lead to bird losses, movement restrictions and temporary closure of export markets.
Some of Saudi Arabia’s import restrictions have reportedly been in place since 2004, while others have been introduced over the years as disease risks changed and new outbreaks were reported internationally.
For poultry producers and exporters, such restrictions can have significant commercial consequences because access to major markets depends heavily on a country’s animal-health status and its ability to demonstrate effective disease surveillance and control.
The Saudi measures, however, do not apply to all poultry products. Heat-treated poultry meat and related products may still enter the Saudi market if they meet the country’s approved health and food-safety requirements.
Such products must be accompanied by official certification confirming that the processing method has effectively eliminated viruses responsible for avian influenza and Newcastle disease. They must also originate from facilities that have been approved under the relevant Saudi requirements.
Partial restrictions have been placed on selected regions 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.
The distinction between full-country bans and regional restrictions highlights the importance of disease surveillance in determining whether poultry products can continue to move across borders. Where outbreaks are limited to particular areas, authorities can impose targeted restrictions rather than completely shutting down trade from an entire country.
For the global poultry sector, the development is another reminder that disease control is closely linked to international market access. Producers and exporting countries must maintain strong biosecurity, early disease detection, traceability and certification systems to protect both domestic flocks and export opportunities.
Saudi Arabia’s decision demonstrates how quickly poultry disease concerns can influence international trade. As authorities continue reviewing the affected countries against changing animal-health conditions, poultry producers and exporters will increasingly need strong biosecurity and reliable disease-surveillance systems to keep markets open and protect the movement of poultry meat and eggs across borders.
