Saudi Arabia Imposes Sweeping Ban on Poultry and Egg Imports from 40 Nations Amid Health Concerns

SFDA Enforces Broad Import Restrictions

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has announced a comprehensive ban on the import of poultry and table eggs from 40 countries, alongside partial restrictions targeting specific regions in an additional 16 nations. This significant move, reported on February 24-26, 2026, is a precautionary measure to protect public health and ensure food safety within the Kingdom.

The SFDA emphasized that the decision stems from ongoing concerns over animal diseases, particularly outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) and Newcastle disease viruses. The authority stated that the list of affected countries will undergo regular review, adapting to global health developments and epidemiological updates.

Affected Nations and Specific Concerns

The full import ban applies to a wide range of countries across various continents. The 40 nations subject to a complete prohibition on poultry and egg imports include:

• 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
• Montenegro

Additionally, 16 other countries face partial restrictions, with bans limited to specific states or cities. These include Australia, the United States, Italy, Belgium, Bhutan, Poland, Togo, Denmark, Romania, Zimbabwe, France, the Philippines, Canada, Malaysia, Austria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Exemptions and Ongoing Monitoring

The SFDA clarified that the temporary ban does not extend to heat-treated poultry meat and related products. However, such products must adhere to stringent conditions, including full compliance with approved health requirements, controls, and standard specifications. They must also be accompanied by a health certificate issued by competent official authorities in the exporting country, confirming that the processing applied is sufficient to eliminate avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses.

The authority noted that while some prohibitions have been in effect since 2004, others have been introduced progressively over the years based on updated risk assessments and international reports concerning animal diseases. This approach underscores the SFDA's continuous monitoring of the global epidemiological situation and its commitment to regulatory adjustments based on evolving disease patterns.