Saudi Arabia Bans Poultry and Egg Imports from Nigeria and 39 Other Countries

Saudi Arabia has placed a temporary ban on the importation of poultry and eggs from Nigeria and 39 other nations, citing precautionary public health and food safety measures.

The restriction was announced by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), which stated that the move aligns with its commitment to protecting consumer health and maintaining food safety standards across the Kingdom.

Alongside Nigeria, several African countries were affected, including South Africa, Ghana, Cameroon, Libya, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Niger, and Ivory Coast.

According to Saudi Gazette, the list of banned nations is subject to regular updates based on global animal disease risk assessments and international health reports.

Countries placed under total ban 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, Ivory Coast, and Montenegro.

However, the SFDA noted that poultry meat and related products that have undergone sufficient heat treatment or processing to eliminate the Newcastle disease virus may be exempt. Such products must meet approved health regulations and be accompanied by an official health certificate from the exporting country.